Governor hails successful gun crime prosecutions
Governor Sir Richard Gozney says he takes heart from 11 guilty verdicts in the past year as Bermuda attempts to get to grips with soaring gun violence.And Sir Richard is hopeful the solution to the Island’s ‘horrendous’ gang troubles can emerge from a well-developed national debate focusing on the root social causes of the problem.Since he became Governor in October 2007, Bermuda has suffered an unprecedented surge of shootings, with 16 gun murders in just over two years.But Sir Richard said police, prosecutors and juries all deserve praise following 15 gun crime Supreme Court trials in the past year; only four of those failed to deliver guilty verdicts.“It’s been horrendous this year and it’s still appalling,” said Sir Richard of Bermuda’s gun violence.“The difference is that we have had, over the last 12 months, lots of gun crime cases go to the Supreme Court. Fifteen gun crime trials in Supreme Court; 11 led to guilty verdicts.”He said police deserve credit for their investigative work, prosecutors for setting cases clearly and juries for listening to what’s said in the courtroom.Even the recent acquittal of half-brothers Ronniko Burchall and Leroy Symons, who were cleared of murdering Shane Minors in December 2009, should bring comfort on some level, said Sir Richard, because the verdict was unanimous.The Governor said: “There was something missing in terms of convincing them.”Another half-dozen trials are in the pipeline with suspects already charged, said Sir Richard, but he acknowledged many shootings are still at the investigation stage.Asked if the authorities are now on the right track tackling gang violence, he replied: “I think police and courts are doing everything they can to tackle the symptoms as everybody recognises now.“The discussion has developed quite a lot over three and a half years I have been here. It’s now a well informed and very interesting debate about the underlining causes.”He said different initiatives addressing crime will now be coordinated to produce better results.Former Premier Ewart Brown and former Public Safety Minister David Burch made frequent demands for Government House to relinquish control of the police force to Government.Sir Richard said while Government House constitutionally provides oversight for the police, Government has responsibility for their administration and payment.He said police and Government talk objectively on policing, discussing what needs to be prioritised and how matters should be presented to the public.Asked if dealing with Ms Cox was different to dealing with Dr Brown, he said: “Personalities can make a difference, none of us pretend otherwise, but in dealing with any PLP Premier, I will always have in mind two things.“One, there’s an expectation that he or she and the Governor of the day should sort things between them so practical measures of Government go ahead sensibly.“The Island of Bermuda is not interested in debates between Government House and Government about who is in charge of the police.“They want better policing and they have got better policing now, I would say, than a few years ago.“Two, a PLP Government and any Premier, we’re now on the fourth, will be a Government who believes that Government House should not exist and Bermuda should be on a different political track, even accepting that that’s not going to happen in the short-term.“I keep that closely in mind. It’s important to those politicians even when it’s not articulated week by week, month by month.“Naturally, I accept that that’s their underlying and strongly held belief, even if it doesn’t surface all the time, and I respect that belief.“I think a Governor and a Premier can share practical objectives, whatever some of the underlying beliefs.”Useful websites: www.police.bm
Government is on track to set up a Department of Border Control, said National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief yesterday.
Last week's report from the joint select committee on crime suggested such a department, involving Customs, Immigration and the police service, would help crack down on the importation of illegal drugs and guns.
Mr Perinchief responded in a statement yesterday: “The Premier set this goal at the beginning of this administration and an organisational structure for a Department of Border Control has been recommended to Cabinet and significant consultation has taken place with internal stakeholders. We are on track.”
The Minister applauded the committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Randy Horton, for providing a compilation of the issues facing the Island.
He described the group's report, which also recommends rival gang members be encouraged to take part in peace talks and calls for various agencies to come together, as useful and worthwhile.
“During the year that the committee took to complete its work, the Government listened and responded to many of the same calls from organisations and citizens,” he said.
“The Integrated Gang Task Force has been formed and is meeting; agencies are sharing information and intelligence and joint operations between the Police and HM Customs are yielding overwhelming successes.
“The public response was important and it is clear that the people of Bermuda want to address the cycle of violence at every level. The Government is working in the areas of education, community development and within Corrections to intervene, arrest the behaviours and promote alternatives to anti-social lifestyles.
“As we debate the report, I believe the people of Bermuda will recognise that significant action has already been taken and in many areas is actively underway.”
