A pair of Pembroke sisters who both lost sons to gang violence have condemned the lack of security camera coverage in their neighbourhood.

Karon Robinson and her sister, Susanne, both of St Monica’s Road, said that the police cameras had given residents a sense of safety — and that neighbours were now fearful of a rise in crime after the two neighbourhood cameras were taken down earlier this week.

Police surveillance cameras across the Island were removed by a security company this week after its contract with the Bermuda Police Service expired on March 31.

Another security firm, BAS/Serco, is expected to install an even more extensive network of CCTV cameras this week, but the improved service has been hit by technical difficulties.

Yesterday Karon Robinson told The Royal Gazette that area residents were once more concerned about a potential rise in crime.

Ms Robinson, whose son Kenwandee (Wheels) Robinson was gunned down on St Monica’s Road in May 2009, said: “Even when there were questions over whether or not the cameras were working, they were effective because it deterred people. Now it feels as though anyone could just ride through the neighbourhood.

“It’s very uncomfortable. We’re going back to living in fear. To have those cameras taken down is just indefensible — it’s not right.”

Susanne Robinson’s son, Joshua, was murdered at a Pembroke barber shop in 2012. She said that there was a lack of a police presence in the area, but the cameras had compensated for that.

“We have lost too many sons in the neighbourhood — the list is endless,” she said.

“There are so many mothers who have lost their sons and that’s why we need the cameras. St Monica’s should be a priority area and yet it seems that they were taken down first.

Marie Adams, a friend of the sisters who lives on the same road, said she saw the cameras being removed on Monday and had no idea if they were going to be returned.

“We’re coming up to the Easter holiday — we don’t want to hear any more pop-pop bam-bam.”

Pembroke East Central MP Michael Weeks said that he was stunned when he learned of the delays, and pointed out that Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley had earlier given assurances that the transition to the new system would be “seamless”.

But a Government spokesman pointed out that CCTV arrangements were the responsibility of the police, not the Ministry of Public Safety.

A police spokesman later confirmed that the full implementation of the new system had been delayed.

The spokesman declined to say how many cameras were currently in operation or when the full remit of 150 cameras will be up and running — but new cameras on St Monica’s Road will be installed eventually.

He added that police were stepping up patrols in “vulnerable” areas such as St Monica’s Road.