Weeks discusses town halls that focused on violence
Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, shared feedback from three recent town halls that examined and discussed violence in Bermuda.
The forums took place throughout the island and featured speeches from Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, Mr Weeks and Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police.
The first town hall was held at St Paul AME Church Centennial Hall, the second at Penno’s Wharf and the final at Dalton E Tucker Primary School.
Mr Weeks told MPs yesterday: “All three were very well attended, people came ready to speak openly, passionately and out of a shared desire to restore safety, unity and hope across our island ... The feedback was constructive, community-minded and focused on solutions.”
The minister highlighted several themes that consistently emerged during the meetings, including addressing the root causes of violence — such as poverty, mental health and weakened family structures — calls for police to collaborate more with other agencies and “a desire for unity, trust-building, community integration and national alignment to replace fragmentation”.
Mr Weeks said many of these suggestions are already contained within the National Violence Reduction Strategy.
He explained: “The National Violence Reduction Strategy is guided by eight core goals, and what we heard in the town halls aligns closely with each of them.”
The National Violence Reduction Strategy has the following eight core goals:
1. Enhance early intervention and community-based initiatives for violence prevention
2. Strengthen community resilience and support systems for gang prevention and rehabilitation
3. Facilitate conflict resolution and de-escalation through negotiation
4. Promote reintegration and restoration
5. Strengthen enforcement measures
6. Improved collaboration
7. Policy advocacy for violence reduction
8. Improved public awareness campaign
He added: “Preventing violence requires mentors, coaches and role models in every parish, clubs and community groups opening their doors more widely, neighbours reconnecting and checking in on one another, families seeking support when they need it, employers creating opportunities for young people and all of us rejecting division and choosing unity.”
Mr Weeks explained: “When we work together and for a common goal, we make this island stronger, more peaceful and more harmonious.
“I again thank every person who attended the meetings and every person who shared their views.
“Your insights will inform our work, strengthen our strategy and help ensure that our collective approach is grounded in the realities of our communities.”
To see Mr Weeks’ full statement, see Related Media
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