As the House of Assembly gathered for its final session before the summer recess, I delivered a sobering message to the Minister of National Security: our communities deserve more than polished soundbites and cherry-picked statistics.

For months, we have watched Michael Weeks celebrate his ministry’s “successes” with carefully crafted messaging. But behind the headlines lies a harsher reality — one that no press release can conceal. For too many, especially our young people, life is becoming more dangerous, not safer.

The Government’s own “Stop the Violence” campaign website lays the truth bare:

• 2019: 0 murders

The first murder-free year in more than two decades. A glimpse of what’s possible

• 2020: 7 murders

Fifty-two firearms incidents in total, including gunmen firing into family homes.

• 2021: 7 murders

Including a mass shooting inside the Robin Hood Pub & Restaurant.

• 2022: 9 murders

Violence rose by 20 per cent.

• 2024: 9 murders

Committed inside the first six months; seven of them in a brutal six-week stretch, including teenagers killed in broad daylight

These are not just numbers. Each one represents a life lost, a family shattered, a community left to grieve and fear.

The Progressive Labour Party government has become adept at highlighting isolated wins while ignoring systemic failures.

Yes, new programmes have been launched.

Yes, funding has been allocated.

But the broader reality remains: guns and bladed weapons continue to cause unacceptable levels of harm and death.

The minister announced more than half a million dollars in grants to community groups working under the National Violence Reduction Strategy. When I asked how those funds were allocated, we learnt there was no competitive request for proposal process — just a simple application form.

That’s not good enough.

How do these grants align with the Government’s own strategy?

What are the performance indicators?

How will success be measured?

Without transparency, how can Bermudians be confident that taxpayer dollars are driving real change rather than merely supporting well-meaning intentions?

As shadow minister, I have a duty to demand better.

If public safety is truly a priority, then we need more than press statements. We need a co-ordinated, data-driven plan that includes:

• Early-intervention programmes with measurable outcomes

• Border-security upgrades to stop weapons from entering our island

• Transparent oversight of all security-related spending

• Regular public reporting on progress and effectiveness

For too many families, time is running out. They deserve leadership that matches the urgency of their fear with the seriousness of our response.

When this House reconvenes, we need a renewed commitment to action — not more excuses, not more performance.

Bermuda cannot afford delay. Our people deserve safety, and they deserve it now.

• Robert King is the Shadow Minister of National Security and the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, and the MP for Smith’s North (Constituency 10)