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Ministers condemn xenophobic and racially charged graffiti

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Ministers have condemned graffiti which they say is becoming a growing problem.

Graffiti has been daubed over a bus shelter in tribute to fatal road accident victim Landro Minors.Government Ministers Walter Roban and Derrick Burgess issued an angry statement condemning the incident in St David's, as well as xenophobic graffiti and gang tagging of property cropping up across the Island.Mr Minors, 27, a popular St David's footballer and cricketer, died last week after a motorcycle accident in Smith's. Messages such as “Never be forgotten” and “Fly bird” were scrawled over the bus shelter at Lighthouse Hill.Mr Roban stated: “The latest incident of a bus shelter in St David's being covered in graffiti in tribute to a road fatality victim is not only illegal, but also in very poor taste.“While sympathetic to the friends and family of the victim, and their desire to display a public tribute, spray painting a public bus shelter is not appropriate in any way, shape or form.”In recent months, there have been numerous incidents of xenophobic graffiti, with Filipino guest workers particularly targeted by insulting slogans.Mr Roban said yesterday: “These despicable acts of racially and ethnically charged graffiti being plastered in public places are the latest in a string of xenophobic defacing of public property, obviously intended to be seen by the individual or individuals responsible.“These are acts of ignorance: ignorance of the struggles of people in Bermuda and from all over the world to free themselves of racial and ethnic hatred and persecution, and to live in a free and just society where an individual's rights are enshrined in the constitution and which applies equally to all.“Locals, residents, foreign workers, visitors, everyone. We in Bermuda, who live, work and visit here, deserve no less.“I would urge whoever is responsible for these reprehensible acts to read some history of the struggles of some of those they have insulted, offended and made threats against.“There is never any excuse to promulgate racial or ethnic hatred and if those responsible are caught, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”The statement also referred to an incident in which an expat's motorbike was set on fire.“Minister Burgess recently met with a group of guest workers at their residence where one of their motorbikes had been set on fire in an intentional and xenophobic act of arson,” it said.“The Minister expressed his displeasure at such an act and reinforced the fact that this type of behaviour is not the way Bermudians in general behave.”It said Mr Burgess met with Belco representatives to ensure effective street lighting was installed as a matter of urgency.The joint statement said Public Works staff will remove offending graffiti at the earliest opportunity and anyone who sees any such incidents taking place should contact police.