Christmas should be cancelled, suggested Public Safety Minister David Burch as Senators pondered how Bermuda can fight back against the recent deluge of shootings.

Yesterday's Upper House sitting was dominated by discussion on why Bermuda has descended into a society where, according to Sen. Burch, "young people are hell-bent on one thing: killing each other".

At one stage, Police sirens blared outside Cabinet 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."

Shortly afterwards, it emerged three gun shots had indeed been fired at C&R Discount store in Court Street, at 10 a.m.

Sen. Burch kicked off the Motion to Adjourn debate by telling Senators he was speaking with a heavy heart after learning of Tuesday night's shootings in an early morning e-mail.

"I don't know any of the people involved, specific details, but what I do know is I'm a Bermudian in this Country who's very concerned, both as Minister responsible for Public Safety and as a Bermudian, about where our Country is, where we are going and what we going to do about it," he said.

"I feel I want to cancel Christmas. Quite frankly ... What I really think we need is for families to look into the eyes of each other and decide what are you going to do in this Country to save us."

He later continued on this theme: "Christmas should be cancelled. Maybe not cancelled, but maybe curfew for all of us. [Where you are] forced to stay in your own home and with your own families.

"Let me ask the people of this Country to please think about how they, in just their own family, can contribute to peace and good will during the season."

Sen. Burch then paid a glowing tribute to new Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva — whose lack of experience he has previously questioned.

"We are getting a new Commissioner. What a way to start. But I think he's up to the challenge. I'm greatly encouraged by his approach and his attitude.

"That's what's required in order for us to move from where we are.

"I'm extremely encouraged by the incoming leadership of Bermuda Police Service, not only by exchanging with them but with others in the Police service.

"I think we are on the threshold of seeing a real change of policing in this Country. The people in this Country recognise that they have a role to play too.

"We are facing some fairly significant and serious challenges that I'm not sure how we overcome them, and it's fine to say the Police should be on the street 24/7, and they are, and they have certainly upped their policing.

"How does one address the mindset of young people, in particular, who are hell-bent on one single thing: killing somebody else. I lie awake at night thinking 'how do you get to that point?' Certainly surrender is not an option."

Attorney General Kim Wilson called for mothers of gang members to show tough love.

She described mothers as enablers if they turn a blind eye when their sons have lots of money without a job.

"Those mothers who have their heads in the sand, and say 'it's not my child', they are just as culpable as those down there doing the shooting," said Sen. Wilson.

"It's not their child yet, but it may well be their child that's next lying in the morgue."

Independent Senator Joan Dillas-Wright said that call should be extended to young women who associate themselves with gang members.

Progressive Labour Party Senator Marc Bean, a community leader in the gang-plagued White Hill area, described the violence as "fratricide" — meaning brothers are killing brothers and cousins are killing cousins.

Sen. Bean said: "Vengeance is a poison of the heart. It overtakes rational thinking. Hatred overtakes rational thinking."

He said he could see no end in sight while any of the warring factions did not want peace.

"Funerals are becoming fashionable in Bermuda," said Sen. Bean. "It's like some big party, some social gathering."

Sen. Bean said he knows many of the youths involved but declared: "I would prefer that the funerals of those involved's families deal with those funerals, than an innocent bystander deals with those funerals."

Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said the United Bermuda Party wanted to show unity with Government in fighting crime.

"We are speaking about a small number of individuals who have turned our community upside down by their actions," he said.

He spoke about the importance of raising children properly, and added that the most dangerous thing with gang members is their lack of fear.

"Once man has no fear, there's no boundary," he said.

Remarking on his attendance at a recent shooting victim's funeral, Sen. Dunkley said: "I could see the hurt, but I could see there's one thing they wanted after that. They wanted payback."

Sen. Dunkley applauded Sen. Burch's announcement that he doesn't care about taking control of operational policing.

PLP Senator Walton Brown suggested banning the names of gangs in the media to take away some of the credibility, a tactic used by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher against the Irish Republican Army.

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes pointed out gang members are not just people in their teens and early 20s.

"It's way beyond that. That's what makes it frightening," he said.

Senate President Carol Ann Bassett called for all members of the public to raise standards in their own lives by showing more respect, particularly to those in authority.

She challenged people: "What is it that you personally are doing to discontinue the way Bermuda is going?"

l More from the Senate – Page 12