A $100,000 reward is being offered to find the cold-blooded killers responsible for five gun murders in Bermuda.

The money will be pooled and can be awarded to a number of community members who provide information on the murders that lead to convictions.

The initiative is being sponsored by Rise Above Bermuda and Crime Stoppers Bermuda and was announced yesterday by spokesperson for Rise Above, Wayne Caines and Deputy Chairman of Crime Stoppers Raphael Simons.

Mr Caines said: "For the last few months, as a community we have been overwhelmed with gun violence and death.

"Rise Above Bermuda set out to mobilise a community of Bermudians who will rise to action. Tasks were given and groups were formed.

"The actions should be direct, immediate, relevant, sustaining and impactful.

"We recognise that we also had to create an incentive for individuals to come forward to give information that might help stop the gun violence and it is to that end, Rise Above Bermuda formally partnered with Crime Stoppers Bermuda and the concerned business community to come up with a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and convictions of those responsible for the deaths of Kenwande Robinson, Kumi Harford, Garry Cann, Shane Minors, or Perry Puckerin or any subsequent individuals killed in gang violence."

Mr. Robinson was shot dead last May. The other four victims were all killed between December 5, last year, and Sunday when 34-year-old Mr. Puckerin was shot dead at the Hamilton Parish Workman's Club.

Mr. Simons explained how the reward could be given, saying: "A reward of up to $100,000 could be paid out to individuals who pass information through either of our anonymous information mediums and the information leads directly to the arrest and successful conviction of a person or persons responsible for the shooting deaths which have occurred on our Island.

"The funds will only be paid out after conviction in a court of law.

"These monies, however, will only be available for the next six months at which time it will revert to the donors."

Asked why money would make a difference in witnesses providing information when it has not appeared to have worked in the past, Mr. Caines said: "This is a part of a number of things that we are doing. This is us taking back the community. It's not necessarily the dollar amount. This is to get the community involved."

Speaking on the six-month window on the sum, Mr. Caines said that is the time frame the various businesses who donated the money chose, but if tips come in, that window could be extended.

As for the business community which has given the money, Mr. Caines said they wanted to remain anonymous but said their passion for fixing the Island was "so strong".

"The business community is deeply committed to making a change. They felt that strongly that this business community has come to make the reward available."

Mr. Simons was asked to further explain how the rewards would be divvied is multiple sources offered tips.

He said: "The value of the tips is weighed by the board of directors and we decide how much money would be paid out."

Mr. Simons also said while the pool is $100,000, if more money needs to be made available, it will be.

For more information visit www.riseabovebermuda.org or www.crimestoppers.bm.