Bermuda’s poor and vulnerable will be impacted the most if the Bermuda Government decides to cut resources across the Island’s three remaining community centres.

This is the view of the founder and chairwoman of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, Sheelagh Cooper, who was reacting to news that Sandys Community Centre, The Centre in Pembroke and St George’s Community Centre were “under review” in light of the government’s hiring freeze.

Others in the community have agreed that community centres are no place to cut resources, especially given Bermuda’s climate of gang-related and other forms of crime.

The Government released a statement when contacted by this newspaper last week emphasising that no decision had yet been made over cuts. However, sources, including the Progressive Labour Party’s Renee Ming, said that up to 15 contract posts could not be guaranteed.

Ms Cooper told The Royal Gazette: “The most vulnerable people in our community are the ones who use these centres the most because they are free. Those who have money can afford to send their children to other more expensive programmes.

“This is the front line for children who are the most vulnerable, so it is a big concern.

“I want to have this conversation now rather than when it is a ‘fait accompli’. It is a terrifying thought, especially in the wake of the continued gang activity and most recent shooting. It is appalling that I can read in the same newspaper a story about a shooting and another about the potential cuts in the community centres. If we need to make cuts, this is not where to do it.”

Ms Cooper cited her charity’s 2014 Forty Point Plan report, which concluded that “front line” resources for the most vulnerable should be prioritised.

“There isn’t a report out there that hasn’t drawn that conclusion,” she said. “The Government is spending money on the Team Street Safe Programme, which has potential, yet are still questioning the front line resources that already exist.”

No indication has been given as to whether any of the centres will be closed.

Government cut back its funding for the Sandys 360 community centre, which is now out of operation. For the fiscal year 2013/14, budget figures showed government grants to the facility topped $500,000, well short of the $2 million originally estimated. No funds were allocated for the following year.

Dr Mervyn Bassett was managing director for that facility and is now on the committee for the Endeavour Community Sailing Programme. He echoed Ms Cooper’s concerns about the effects any reduction in resources could have on crime in Bermuda.

He said: “It will come as no surprise to see an escalation in gangs and antisocial behaviour when a community doesn’t invest in its youth through these facilities. Government should be investing heavily not cutting funding from youth programmes.

“They have spent a lot on the America’s Cup which is good but it should not be at the expense of youth development.

“Endeavour is a fantastic programme and it is being supported by the America’s Cup not by Government. But not everybody is into sailing and it is mainly only going to attract children aged from nine to 12. We need programmes particularly for the preteen and teenage area that is generally where they go off the rails.

“Government cut our funding [Sandys 360] and we disappeared off the map. That was after a study was done that demonstrated that there was a real need for intervention in the West End.

“Our youth represent our future. It is disturbing if that is going to be a position of government.”

When asked for comment a government spokeswoman said that no further information would be provided at this stage.

Jeff Baron, Junior Minister for National Security, said he would be willing to comment once Government had issued more definitive information over its plans.

Charles Jeffers, director of Age Concern, said he was worried about the seniors his charity represents.

He said: “These things are often thrown out there and then, of course, when they get the public’s reaction they say, ‘oh we haven’t decided yet’.

“Any move that is being made to take away the low-cost services from seniors to me is a tragedy. They are having a tough time as it is in so many areas.“

Mr Jeffers added that Government should instead save money by reducing the size of Parliament.

“We are the most over governed country in the world — 36 MPs looking after 60,000 people? In my view we are living way beyond our means and it’s from the top down,” he said.