August 27, 2007

ACCORDING to the recent Royal Gazette article headlined "Police: 37 firearms incidents since 2003" guns usually come in with drug shipments. It was also stated that '"People monitor (the police) ... If they see a lot of Police activity at the airport they use the ports, if they see a lot of activity on the docks they use the Airport."

This statement alone leaves me thinking; "people monitor" the Police? Which people? Is there an internal informer leaking this information to the individuals importing the drugs and guns?

They would need advance notice as to which mode of transport they'll use to get the contraband into Bermuda undetected.

So how would they know by monitoring Police activity at the airport or ports, unless they're being tipped off by someone within that in a few days the ports will be targeted or the airport is a better option? Or are they implying that when Police are not at the airport the Customs Officers are letting it in?

Or is there some truth in Blaire Tucker's inference, during his trial, that certain Police Officers are corrupt?

In a July 28, 2006 Bermuda Sun article, I shared my concern about how the ports were being manned and focussed on preventing drugs and contraband, including guns, from entering Bermuda.

I asked why Customs Officers were removed from the gangway of the ships arriving in Bermuda. Another article on the same page was headlined "Guns 'arrive by cargo ship'." This was the sentiment of an ex-senior cop who stated that it's time to crack down at the ports. Have any measures been put in place since then?

In a Royal Gazette article dated April 23, 2003, the Collector of Customs Winifred Fostine-DeSilva stated that "our officers are diligent in performing their duties in a professional manner, but it would not be practical for us to stop and search every person coming into Bermuda. We search passengers based on principles of probability and risk. Extensive training has enabled our officers to identify potential smugglers and to detect items such as guns and drugs concealed in luggage". (No mention of containers on cargo ships).

What disturbs me is that she is the head of the Department who delegates to her Assistant Collectors, who delegate to their Principal Officers, who delegate to the Senior Officers, who are responsible for the regular Customs Officers and the Trainee Officers. To cut down on overtime, we've seen a vast number of Trainee Customs Officers hired since 2003. Is the Customs Department any better off now with the influx of new Trainee Customs Officers?

Mrs. Fostine-DeSilva also stated that "we have had considerable success with the methods we use even though gun smuggling is not common in Bermuda." That statement is quite contrary to the figures cited in the recent Royal Gazette article where it was reported 37 firearms incidents have occurred since 2003. So who is out of touch with reality?

In an April 21, 2003 Royal Gazette article, didn't a teenager claim to smuggle guns through Customs? There was also mention that gun smuggling was as easy as filling out a Customs Declaration form. We should all be concerned because gun use is on the increase and they have to be passing the ports to end up in the hands of the criminals.

Customs Officers are no longer visible on the gangways of the ships which dock in Bermuda, instead I've seen an obese security officer slouched in his chair as he casually inspected the passengers embarking and disembarking a cruise ship at Penno's Wharf.

The containers arriving on container ships are obviously seldom and randomly checked by Customs Officers. How often do they rotate the staff? Perhaps change is needed at the top.

What are the views of Premier Ewart Brown (pictured) on guns arriving with drug shipments, which has led to one falling into the wrong hands and claiming the life of one of Bermuda's national football team players? In a February 19, 2003 Royal Gazette article, Premier Brown stated that "Bermuda has to stop running and hiding from the problems causing youth violence."

Since making that statement, has too much emphasis been placed on fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming Premier of Bermuda, the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal and other outstanding issues, rather than ensuring that the ports are adequately manned?

Certainly, a life is worth more than a few dollars saved in overtime and, as the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

J. CAINES

Devonshire