October 5, 2014

Dear Sir,

I find it astonishing that the Lindos T20 final was postponed and now cancelled following advice from the Police service! How can we as a community allow hooligans and thugs to dictate where and when we can hold public events?

I’ve read and heard the comments from the chief executive of the Bermuda Cricket Board, but how is this decision not giving in to criminals?

After every shooting or violent occurrence over the past few years, we see press conferences held by high ranking Police officers and/or politicians, espousing to use every resource to apprehend the offenders and severe punishment for those found guilty of such crimes.

Minister of National Security and Premier, the honorable Michael Dunkley, can you tell us why the Police Service has gone soft all of a sudden?

Does the Bermuda Police Service, including the Armed Response Team not have the capability to protect the public during a three-hour cricket match, or are they just plain afraid?

The year following the Good Friday murder at Victor Scott, we saw a massive police presence there to supposedly show the public that we weren’t afraid of the criminals, but now we cancel an event out of fear.

There is no other way to explain it, we are capitulating to the lawless minority!

We hear politicians talk about banning dark helmet visors, fixing street lighting, or some other reactionary stop gap measure, but none of that is a deterrent.

If I take a life, then I forfeit my own, or at the very least should spend the rest of life behind bars! How is it that a convicted murderer can receive a life sentence and be eligible for parole in 25 years? Life should mean life, without the possibility of parole! Enough of this “alternatives to incarceration” nonsense with conditional discharges and social enquiry reports. Let’s start making people responsible for their actions and facing the consequences of said actions.

The Bermuda cricket & football governing bodies are always complaining that locals don’t support locally held events, but this is a classic example of why not.

You come out to games and have to listen to nonstop profanity, inhale marijuana smoke, or experience violence on or off the pitch. Take your pick, as the authorities don’t seem to be willing to literally police these events. There’s going to be an election next month for Terry Lister’s vacant seat, but to the OBA & PLP politicians, please don’t bother knocking on my door, as neither of you have my confidence or vote!

DAVID WILLIAMS (Sandys)