Public Safety Minister David Burch today said he has backed down from his demand for control of policing and declared his support for new Commissioner Michael DeSilva’s bid to tackle gang violence.

“I do not give a monkey’s who is in charge of operational control of the Police,” Senator Burch said in a meeting of the Senate today.

Speaking hours after waking to find a 22-year-old Pembroke man was killed in Bermuda’s 16th shooting incident since May, Sen. Burch also suggested Christmas should be cancelled as the Island gets to grips with the gangs epidemic.

For the past two years, the Public Safety Minister and Premier Ewart Brown have demanded operational control of policing — arguing that while the Governor is in charge they can’t confront soaring crime levels.

But today Sen. Burch said he was now concerned with the thoughts of the man on the street.

“They don’t care about the constitution in that regard. They want action and results,” he said.

Sen. Burch added that he has confidence in the ability of Mr. DeSilva and his team to deliver those results.

At one stage during today’s Senate debate, Police sirens could be heard outside in the area of Front Street and Parliament Street, with Progressive Labour Party Senator Marc Bean remarking: “I just got worried that there’s another incident.”

Later it emerged three gun shots had indeed been fired at the CR Discount store in Court Street at 10 a.m.

* For full coverage of the Senate debate and the shootings, see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.