The MP for Pembroke Central, the constituency in which Tuesday’s fatal shooting took place, is to launch a canvassing effort to engage with affected residents.

Jason Hayward, who is also the Minister of Economy and Labour, spoke after Janae Minors, 37, a mother of two, was shot in her store, Beauty Monster, on the corner of Dundonald Street and Court Street.

Mr Hayward said he was “deeply saddened” by the recent shooting and that he had emphasised to Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, the urgent need for increased policing and safety in the area.

Meanwhile, David Burt, the Premier, pledged to do what was necessary to stop what he called the minority of the population who are causing “chaos” in the community.

Mr Hayward said: “As the Member of Parliament for Pembroke Central, I am deeply saddened by the recent spate of shootings that have resulted in the tragic loss of life within our community. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this painful time.

“It is unacceptable that the people of Pembroke Central, and indeed all of Bermuda, must continue to endure such senseless acts of violence. Our neighbourhoods should be places where families feel safe and business owners can operate without fear. These incidents are not only criminal acts, they are an assault on the peace and wellbeing of our entire society.

“Following the most recent incidents, I engaged directly with the Minister of National Security, Michael Weeks, to stress the urgent need for increased policing and enhanced safety measures in the area.

“While the road ahead will not be easy, I fully support the minister in deploying the necessary resources to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent further violence.

“In addition, I will be launching a comprehensive canvassing initiative in the coming days and over the weekend. I want to hear directly from residents and business owners about their concerns, and gather ideas on how we can work collaboratively to restore safety and trust in our community.

“The people of Pembroke Central deserve better, and we will not accept this as the status quo.

“It is time for all of us to stand united and send a clear, unwavering message — violence has no place in our community.”

The Premier said the tragic events of Tuesday signal “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated”.

He added: “The operational posture of all agencies engaged in the fight to arrest this deliberate assault on our communities must change.

“This will not be normalised and no barrier exists to the strong enforcement required to stop this minority who are devoted to sowing chaos and fear.

“I have been clear with the Governor, the commissioner and the Minister of National Security on the need to reassure this community that we are not afraid to do what is required.”

The killing happened about 20 yards from where a double murder took place five weeks earlier. In that incident, Natrae Eversley, 23, and Nakai Robinson, 18, were shot dead, and a third person was left injured.

• On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on a story that we deem may inflame sensitivities or discontinue them. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers