Minister of Home Affairs David Burch has condemned the violence that broke out in St. Monica's Road over the weekend as "cowardly and deplorable".

Meanwhile, Shadow Justice Minister Mark Pettingill slammed Government for slashing the Police budget by $2 million despite calls by one of its own Ministers for a substation in the gang-blighted area.

Gunshots rang out in St. Monica's Road around 3.45 a.m on Saturday in what is understood to be a 'drive by shooting' incident. No-one was injured. Almost exactly 24 hours later, Police received reports of a car and motorcycle ablaze on the same road. Both vehicles were extensively damaged.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said last night that both the firearms incident and the vehicle fires were under active investigation but had not been formally linked.

"Police patrols, including officers with armed response capabilities, remain vigilant in and around the St. Monica's Road area, as well as in various areas around the island," he added.

Police would not comment on whether any arrests had been made or what they believe sparked the incidents.

Senator Burch issued a statement calling for those with information to come forward. He said: "These acts of lawlessness are cowardly and deplorable. And I have been advised by the Commissioner of Police, George Jackson, that the Bermuda Police Service is dedicating all the necessary resources to root out the culprits responsible for this shameful incident.

"It is very difficult for me to believe that in our small 21 square miles that no one has any knowledge about this incident. And at this time, my plea would be to those residents who may have any information about the St. Monica's Road incident to come forward and assist the Police.

"Finally, I would like to say to all of Bermuda that we are better than this. We are better than the gang activity and the random acts of gunfire. These are our neighbourhoods and we must take them back. But Government and the Police cannot do it alone. And so I want to urge all residents, for the good of our country to please come together and reject these heinous acts of violence such as the ones that occurred this weekend. You can assist greatly by coming forward and providing whatever information you may know about this incident no matter how small."

Government House said in a statement: "We strongly condemn this latest episode of mindless violence, reported to have involved the use of a firearm, and also the considerable damage caused to private property.

"It is fortunate that nobody was injured or killed. The life sentences awarded in the Supreme Court on February 20 to individuals involved in an earlier shooting should serve as a warning that no effort will be spared to bring to justice anyone engaged in such appalling criminal activity. Anyone with information that may assist the Police with their investigation is urged to come forward immediately."

Yesterday, The Royal Gazette reported comments from Nelson Bascome, the Progressive Labour Party MP for the St. Monica's Road area. Mr. Bascome, who was woken in his nearby home by the noise from the gunfire said: "We continue to call for constant Policing in that area. I was just at a community meeting Thursday evening. One of the residents called for a (Police substation). It's an area that needs constant Police surveillance."

Mr. Pettingill said he was "astounded' by those remarks when Friday's budget saw Government shave $2 million off Police funding for 2009/10 compared to the previous year. The Police budget is down $9 million over the last two years. And, he pointed out, the specific budget for community beat officers stands at zero for both this year and last.

Mr. Pettingill said he knows that senior Police officers want community policing and that Police substations work.

"We need people on the ground in the community. We have to pay for it. We have to allot it. The Police are asking for it and the Government are giving them zero," he claimed.

Police are continuing to encourage anyone with any information about the incidents at the weekend to call 299-4244 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.