A decision to appoint a new Minister of National Security does not fix the island’s safety issues, the Shadow Minister of National Security, Governance and Artificial Intelligence has warned.

Jarion Richardson said the island’s security challenges are no longer isolated problems that can be solved by a single minister.

His statement came in the wake of a decision by David Burt to replace Michael Weeks with Ryan Robinson Perinchief in one of several ministerial changes announced on Friday.

Mr Richardson said the appointment of Mr Perinchief does not answer the deeper question Bermudians are asking: “What is this government actually doing to make Bermuda safer?”

He said: “No one should question the former minister’s desire to make Bermuda safer,” Mr Richardson said.

“This is not about one person. It is about a government that keeps changing faces while refusing to confront the failures of the system it leads.”

The former Leader of the Opposition said a number of issues such as unsolved murders road deaths, weak co-ordination, outdated technology and under-supported frontline services are “connected symptoms of a wider failure across Cabinet”.

He added: “National security is not just a police matter. It touches education, youth services, transport, public works, health, justice, corrections, customs, digital infrastructure and the way Government allocates resources.

“When those services are misaligned, under-equipped or left reacting after the murders have already occurred, Bermudians pay the price.”

On Friday, Mr Burt returned Diallo Rabain to the education portfolio he previously held for more than seven years, asking him to take back the job after Crystal Caesar’s resignation from Cabinet on Thursday night.

Mr Robinson Perinchief, a lawyer, was also made a senator. The Reverend Emily Gail Dill was announced as Minister of the Cabinet Office.

Asked about the changes being made only three months before he steps down as leader of the Progressive Labour Party, Mr Burt said: “The people of this country expect us to be working at all points in time.

“If I make the judgment that we need a change, to ensure that we can have delivery on the promises which we gave, whether that is four months or four years, the people of this country expect work to be delivered all the time.”

Speaking after a swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Mr Burt admitted the reappointments were “difficult decisions”, but he believed they gave the Government “the best chance to continue to deliver on the legislative agenda”.

He added: “If you look back on my history, in the nine years I’ve been in office, I very rarely changed ministers. It was just a judgment that I thought these changes needed to happen at this time.”

Mr Richardson said the Premier failed to address the hard realities facing families and communities, adding: “Bermuda does not need another round of political musical chairs. Changing the person at the top of the ministry may create a headline, but it does not fix the hole in the boat.

“This government keeps rearranging the deckchairs while water is rushing in.”

Mr Richardson called on Mr Burt “to take personal responsibility for a whole-of-government national security plan with clear timelines, published priorities and measurable outcomes”.

He said the plan must include support for the police, modern technology, proper road safety enforcement, co-ordinated youth intervention, stronger intelligence-led prevention and real accountability for results.

“Condolences after tragedy are not policy. Announcements are not delivery. Bermuda needs a government capable of preventing harm before it happens.”

Mr Richardson said a new ministerial appointment gives the Premier “someone else to blame for this government’s failing policies, while allowing him to keep at arm’s length from the gritty truth.

“This government is better at being popular than being effective, but Bermuda cannot be made safer by political reshuffles.”

The Government has been approached for comment.