Residents were urged today not to surrender to the latest cycle of violence to grip the island.

Government officials, church leaders and others gathered at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hamilton for an impromptu midday service under the theme “Every Life is Precious”.

They were told by Captain Alfred Esdaille of the Salvation Army to speak out and expose anyone they might know of being involved in crime.

The event was held a stone’s throw away from the scene of a shooting on September 16 in which Janae Minors, 37, a mother of two, was fired upon in her store, Beauty Monster, on the corner of Dundonald Street and Court Street.

Her death occurred mere yards from where a double murder took place five weeks earlier, when Natrae Eversley, 23, and Nakai Robinson, 18, were shot dead and a third man left injured.

In an impassioned speech, Captain Esdaille urged the congregation — which included Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour and Dennis Lister, Speaker of the House of Assembly — that steps must be taken to “take our island back”.

He said: “What upsets me the most is that I encounter people on a daily basis who tell you that Bermuda is finished, but that is nonsense.

“We cannot surrender, we will not surrender, we need to take Bermuda back.

“If you have cousins, nephews, sons, daughters that are involved in violence, expose them.”

He recalled getting caught up as a young man in multiple illicit activities, including drug use, but said he turned his life around after he was kidnapped by people involved in drug trafficking.

He said: “That was my turning point, that made me realise that my life was valuable and I needed to make a positive change.”

Captain Esdaille said there were many “good young men” making a difference.

He added: “There are only a few of them who are hellbent on causing disruption.

“I will guarantee you that many of them do not want to be where they are, but they are bound by it.

“And they are scared and they are full of fear, because they know they are next.

“We have a role and responsibility to reach out and help them up. We cannot be afraid.

“This is our island and this country is one of the beautiful places in the world.”

He asked: “We’re going to just let our island fall because of a few individuals?”

He added: “No, we cannot, and we cannot keep blaming the Government, we cannot keep blaming the police, we have to blame ourselves.”

Captain Esdaille said Court Street should not be linked to violence, and that antisocial behaviour was “everywhere on the island — and that has to stop”.

He said he felt touched by the death of Ms Minors, who was the relative of a family member.

Mr Hayward, the MP for Pembroke Central (Constituency 17), said there was “some level of concern” about violence but also “hope, optimism and a desire for change”.

Given the recent shootings, he said residents had voiced both safety and economic concerns.

Mr Hayward said the Court Street area should not be used as a “hunting ground” for those involved in violence and antisocial behaviour.

He highlighted a “deep level of frustration” expressed by residents.

He added: “I am deeply committed to working collectively with each and everyone on the solutions and recommendations for this area.”

Glenn Fubler, of Imagine Bermuda, said: “We are asking people to let their light shine, so that we can create the sort of community where everybody feels valued.”

Dawn Simmons, the chairwoman of the Progressive Labour Party, said the recent shootings occurred at times when she was often passing through to and from the party’s office on Court Street.

Ms Simmons said: “We cannot allow business as usual in our community, with what has happened.

“Lawlessness cannot be accepted as part of our community.”

She added: “Some people do not have love, they need love.

“We need to show more love to one another, more compassion to one another.”