Public Safety Minister David Burch has criticised cinema-goers who witnessed the double Southside shooting but will not talk to Police.

He told the Senate yesterday: "I am ashamed to say that the most recent shooting has been met by a wall of silence. A hundred people saw what happened, yet not one person would give a statement.

"All of us can and need to do something in our own neighbourhoods; every single Bermudian must be involved in turning our society around."

Devonshire Cougars footballer Shaki Minors, 26, and CedarBridge Academy teacher Renee Kuchler, 24, were gunned down outside Southside cinema in St. David's on Friday, November 13. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

A campaign to try to stem gun and gang violence — called One Love, One Community — was launched at the weekend by Devonshire Recreational Club president Craig Clarke at a match between the Cougars and Boulevard Community Club.

Sen. Burch said: "Yesterday's game was significant because Parkside members support Boulevard Community Club and the 42nd members support Devonshire Cougars.

"The One Love, One Community campaign is to try to broker a truce with these warring factions. I, and the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, are delighted to partner with Devonshire Recreational Club, as we believe it is these types of grassroots initiatives that will help heal our country.

"We are prepared to partner with any organisation to effect the change we seek in our country — yesterday's activity was a fine start."

The Minister called on Bermudians to stand up as witnesses to help eradicate the "eruption of gun violence in our country".

He told the Upper Chamber: "It it with regret that I report today that the Bermuda Government does not have a 'magic bullet' to fix the gang activity that is currently plaguing our island home. I know this is amazing, but we did not reach this stage overnight and there is no magic fix."

He added: "We have to be willing to identify wrong, to stand up and denounce evil. We have to be prepared to draw a line in the sand determining what we, as a community, will not accept."

Sen. Burch suggested that people needed to get more involved and speak out when they know that a family member or friend is involved with crime.

"I know it is easier to believe in a shadowy 'them' than in the fact that a smiling, convivial acquaintance or relative is also a drug dealer," he said. "It is easier to turn a blind eye when presented with a new car, a house, jewellery or a trip than to ask where the money came from."

He said employers should become more "pro-family" and that clubs ought to consider closing their doors between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to encourage fathers to spend time with their children.

He said if Bermuda Government was responsible for operational policing his wish list would include: more community officers on foot patrols, more visible officers in densely populated areas and more patrols in identified hot spots.

Senate president Carol Ann Bassett described the Minister's statement as a "clarion call" and "a real wake up call for our community".

She said: "I refuse to believe that a few — it's probably not even a few hundred — can hold this country to hostage and do whatever they feel like doing and the rest of us sit around like victims."