A children’s charity is urging MPs to focus on a raft of initiatives to tackle the root causes of gang violence and improve the lives of the island’s youngest.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children yesterday released a 38-point plan, which includes a call for a minimum wage and a ban on school expulsions, in advance of the upcoming Throne Speech.

Sheelagh Cooper, from the charity, told The Royal Gazette that the “legislative and policy agenda” was timely in the wake of the gun murder on Tuesday evening of 19-year-old Isaiah Furbert and other recent violence.

“Clearly, we are in a state of emergency in Bermuda, when you have two stabbings, two murders and two shootings in the space of a month,” she said. “Five out of six were in the space of two weeks. It really underscores the need to look at what’s causing this. We are facing an epidemic of violence in our community and much of this is driven by conditions that have existed when these perpetrators were young and exposed to violence in their homes, in their neighbourhoods, and whose lives were treated, in many cases, with disregard by the schools they attended.

“These conditions still exist today and this in no way is meant to excuse this horrendous behaviour, but if we continue to perpetuate the conditions that create these very damaged and callous individuals, we will continue to watch our community destroy itself.”

She said the recommendations in the plan would “enhance the likelihood that every child in Bermuda will grow up in a healthy and nurturing environment, be provided a quality education, have access to good healthcare and be provided adequate nutrition”.

Ms Cooper added: “While we acknowledge that the burden for ensuring this quality of life does not rest solely — or even mostly — on Government, there are some basic services that Government does provide. The recommendations are directed towards those who have the power to make these changes, in advance of the November 4 Throne Speech.”

The charity’s plan tackles education and youth development, employment, adult education, housing, family support, prisons and the justice system.

It includes calls for a set wage which reflects the cost of living for families with children, a dedicated trade school, tougher sentences for child abusers, a doubling in the number of school counsellors and subsidised tuition and book expenses at Bermuda College.

Children should not be placed in foster care simply because their mother is homeless, says the charity, as the money would be better spent on providing the parent with financial aid.

“It is no surprise that a significant portion of the inmate population has spent their childhood moving from one foster home to another,” states the plan.

According to the Coalition, the Government needs to better coordinate its “safety net” services and place them all under one Ministry.

And it says one simple but key change to the public education system would be to stop expelling children from middle and senior schools.

Ms Cooper said it was all too common for youngsters to be “suspended” from school and not allowed to return, adding that the charity had already seen four cases this academic year and many examples previously.

“The Department [of Education] needs to honour their legal obligation to provide an appropriate educational setting for children who have challenges up to school leaving age,” states the plan.

“This could involve the establishment of an alternative school for at-risk or troubled youth, with a focus on the talents and gifts of these young people.”

• Read the full plan by clicking on the PDF link above, under Related Media. It is also available at www.coalition.bm or from the charity’s office on Mount Hill Road, Pembroke.