Happy New Year Family! Yet another murder! And the beat goes on. The bad news is that this is happening. The really bad and worse news is that there will be more killings. DJLT is a realist who can see things as they are and call a spade a spade. If anyone thinks we are done with murders, killings, shootings; they are silly, uninformed and living in another world. Leaders are saying that there is no evidence to suggest that visitors are being attacked and that Bermuda is still a relatively safe place. Well, they need to get their collective heads out of the sand; because this is just the tip of an awful iceberg. More on this after the Top 20.

Kicking off 2010 at #1 is Run This Town by Jay Z, Rihanna and Kanye West. Moving on up at #2 is Whitney Houston's monster hit anthem Million Dollar Bill, which is still atop international dance charts. Tumbling to #3 is Mary Mary with God In Me. Hopefully God will help us, we need him more than ever now if the right minded and law abiding citizens are ever to get back control of this country. Falling to #4 is the dance anthem I Know You Want Me by Pitbull. Up to # 5 is Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas. Up to #6 is Under by Pleasure P.

Improving to #7 is S.O.S. (Let The Music Play) by Jordin Sparks. Up to #8 is a previous essential new tune; Make Me by Janet Jackson. Up to #9 its Bad Habits by Maxwell. Improving to #10 is Release Me by Agnes. Fighting its way up to #11 is Empire State Of Mind by Jay Z and Alicia Keys. Tumbling to #12 is Obsessed by Mariah Carey.

On the way up at #13 its Baby By Me by 50 Cent featuring Ne-Yo, a recent essential new tune. I just don't like the words of this song. Yes the beat is hot but I can't manage negative lyrics that encourage illegitimacy as if it's a sport. Up to #14 is I Invented Sex by Trey Songs featuring Drake. Improving to #15 is Money To Blow by Birdman featuring L'il Wayne and Drake. Jumping to #16 is Papers by Usher. Up to #17 is Paparazzi by Lady Gaga. Falling to #18 is Successful by Drake featuring L'il Wayne. Falling to #19 is Wasted by Gucci Mane featuring Plies or OJ Da Juiceman. Down to #20 is this week is Would've Been The One by Solange, a dance hit and a former essential selection

Now back to this week's word – more shootings and killings to come. I'm glad the Police have sought outside assistance to deal with the surge in shootings and killings. Sometimes you have to be honest with yourself and admit when you're out of your depth. The Bermuda Police Service finds itself in this predicament with the madmen who are killing each other in our community.

Officers in other countries have a longer history and greater degree of familiarity with this type of crime. Hopefully our policemen will learn quickly, be like sponges, add their own local knowledge and work with the consultants to help to create the conditions such that this type of behaviour is discouraged, prevented, thwarted and terminated.

It's not going to be easy work; this is not a quick fix, but there is the potential to have a major impact on improving the quality of life for all residents. But many residents in this country have to assume responsibility for some of the crime. I'm talking about parents, relatives, associates, friends and family members of known criminals who simply refuse to provide information to the authorities about the criminals and refuse to be willing to give evidence in court. These people have blood on their hands as well and are as much a part of the problem as the criminals, because they are essentially enablers.

It's been said that people will not come forward with evidence because the authorities cannot protect them and they fear for their safety as well as the safety of their families. I disagree. There is protection and it starts by putting the criminals in jail. It continues with getting the judges to be willing to issue maximum sentences and punishment, the goal of which is to deter and discourage crime.

Well, we have to encourage rather than discourage, so I will simply say that I hope the new initiatives bear fruit and are successful. This country cannot afford to have this effort fail; it must succeed if we are to curb this spike in crime and return Bermuda to the type of peaceful country it used to be so many years ago.

My concern is that very soon, some innocent child, tourist, grandmother or other bystander is going to be shot or, God forbid, killed by a stray bullet. When this happens, and I regret to be the bearer of bad news who tells you that it will happen, then people will realise that this is serious and not just limited to a few individuals. When there is crime in a society, you may not think it affects you if it is not in your backyard. But I am here to tell you that if there is crime in a country in which you live, it is your problem and it does affect you and it will affect you up close and personal. It is just a matter of time. Peace be with you 'til we meet again … DJLT.