The intent of my previous opinion was to sound an alarm. I was doing my part to emphasise just how dreadful Bermuda's gang-related murder spree is. I penned it a few weeks after the double murder on Court Street in August. Before the ink was dry and the article was published in The Royal Gazette, there was another gang-style execution at almost the same location. This time, a mother and business owner was mercilessly shot multiple times at point-blank range. Again, this shooting took place one block from our main police station, one block from Progressive Labour Party headquarters and in broad daylight during rush-hour traffic.

The message I tried to convey is that the killings on our island are bad enough that we must do whatever is necessary to put an end to them. In addition, I pointed out that it would occur only through a combined national effort involving the public, the Government and law enforcement.

I tackled the problem from the perspective that is most intense. That is the demographic of those that have been apprehended for murder and those that have been killed since 2009 have been almost exclusively Black boys and men between the ages of 16 and 35. That’s a fact.

However, to be expected, we are witnessing the scope of victims widening to include four Black women, one White boy and man, and a few older Black men ranging in age to 55. Thankfully, other demographics have been spared, but one must soberly ask the question: at the rate murders are progressing in our island, how long before another demographic becomes a victim?

The Gazette later published an editorial expanding upon what I pointed out. Later, it followed up with photographs of the victims of 43 unsolved murders since 2003 — plus another six whose cases have gone to trial without conviction.

That, in and of itself, is a damning statistic on all of us; a discussion for another time.

At present, we are faced with the trauma that is being placed upon Bermudian boys and men aged 16 to 35 who are seeing their former schoolmates being gunned down and killed by other former schoolmates. They are living in the same limited confines of our 21 square miles.

According to statistics, there are approximately only 4,500 to 5,000 of them in this demographic or 8 per cent of the total population. The police have reported recently that only about 200 of them are actively involved in gangs. In other words, 4 per cent of that group, between 16 and 35, are causing this terror on our island.

As a nation, we should be concerned about what is happening to the other 96 per cent of those within this demographic who are not gangsters and thugs, but young people trying to live normal lives. How are they able to live normal lives as young men when they are navigating a staggering annual murder rate of 180 per 100,000 (see previous article)?

What I am trying to impress upon all of us in Bermuda is that it is dangerous to be a young Black male in 2025 and has been for the past 15 years. Undoubtedly, there is significant psychological, emotional and mental damage being sustained. The statistics are likely screaming out what is happening to them, but we are not paying attention.

They cannot move about the island freely and not be concerned for their safety in a way that the rest of us take for granted. They dare not go to public events without considering the perils and who they are seen associating with. They are in a precarious kill zone anywhere outside of their home and precious few other places.

What toll is this taking upon the rest of us who care for these young men, who protect them and teach them?

What toll is this having on helping agents who offer counselling to the victim's family?

What toll is this having upon the surviving children and families of the victims of murder?

What toll is it having upon the murderer's family?

What toll is it having on the psychology of all of us?

Some alarming facts have been revealed recently by the police, such as one gun has been used 13 different times, the shooters are clearly practising and are far more organised. Also, in the past few weeks, the police have found four firearms and 80 arrests for bladed articles have taken place.

The enemy is within.

This enemy is wielding a power of life and death, a power that we do not grant even the most powerful persons holding the highest offices in our country. Not even the police are allowed to take a life unless it is in self-defence. However, it is as if some evil force has turned our sons, brothers and fathers of that age range into guided missiles. What’s worse is they are destroyers of almost exclusively their own kind.

Our young men are trapped in a nightmare where the island looks perfectly normal, tranquil and beautiful, except the murder rate is telling a story of horror. We therefore need different and more effective measures that the general public have to be in support of.

There is in fact a state of emergency and a genocide of sorts taking place right here on this beautiful little island.

The Governor has taken the unprecedented step of paying for overseas specialists to tackle this challenging problem for at least six months. This is a clear rebuke to the leadership of Bermuda for allowing gang violence to fester and continually get worse. This is also a move by the Governor that cannot be seen to fail — for obvious reasons.

Bermuda, if we do not collectively wake up to these facts and respond to them appropriately, we will lose the opportunity to save our country.

• Vic Ball was the independent candidate for Pembroke South West (Constituency 20) in the February 2025 General Election