Police may have blown their only chance of brokering a permanent ceasefire between Bermuda's two main gangs, according to a community activist.

Carlton Simmons claims that Parkside and 42nd Street — the rival gangs locked in a deadly feud which has seen at least seven men killed since May — were willing to sit down with detectives at the start of the year to hammer out a lasting truce.

Both sides had already put down their guns over Christmas, as part of a festive peace deal which gang members, Police and other behind-the-scenes community members worked together to bring about.

But Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette that one side pulled out of negotiations after five alleged key members were refused Police bail following a drugs raid at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on New Year's Eve — and were unlikely to enter into peace talks again any time soon.

"We got it so far that the gangs agreed to meet," said Mr. Simmons. "An opportunity was missed. It didn't break down so much because of the people involved but because of the Police not understanding how to broker peace with street culture."

On January 3, father-of-two Perry Puckerin, who lived in the St. Monica's Road/42nd Street area, was murdered — the first shooting on the Island in more than two weeks. James Lawes and Kimwandae Walker have since also been fatally shot, as well as George Lynch in Midland Heights Crescent, Hamilton Parish, on Wednesday night.

It is not yet clear if Mr. Lynch's murder was connected to the 42nd/Parkside rivalry but Police have said he was not connected with any gang.

Mr. Simmons said some gang members were infuriated on New Year's Eve by a perceived Police double standard because an alleged high-ranking member of 42nd was granted bail on Boxing Day after being arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana.

He claimed Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva agreed to that bail specifically to keep the peace.

"That was to maintain a ceasefire," said Mr. Simmons. "I said the gang member's absence would make it difficult for people in his team to guarantee the peace. The Police were fully cooperative.

"They said: 'OK, we will give him bail under the condition that this is towards him continuing to help maintain the peace'."

Mr. Simmons, president of the Youth on the Move (YOM) charity, added: "I'm disappointed and I'm regretful that the Police could not have given the negotiations a try.

"Around the New Year period, there had not been a shooting for 14 days. That was a direct result of behind-the-scenes negotiations with Police, gang members and others in the community."

Mr. DeSilva told this newspaper that a man was arrested on suspicion of a simple possession offence on Boxing Day, whereas the five arrested at the Hamilton Princess were initially suspected of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

"It's an unfair comparison because of the degrees of the investigations," said the Commissioner. "I don't accept that we showed favouritism or that we picked on any particular group or that that is, in any way, relevant to any perceived breakdown in a quiet period or an increase in violence.

"I am not making the connection that he is making. You are comparing apples with oranges. Maybe there was a misunderstanding in terms of what we could and couldn't do when it came to some of the things that were being asked of us.

"It's unfortunate that it didn't work out perhaps the way that he expected."

Mr. Simmons revealed that Mr. DeSilva and Assistant Commissioners Paul Wright and Mike Jackman came to the YOM office on Elliott Street to ask for help in negotiating a ceasefire over Christmas. Other groups were also asked to get involved.

Mr. Simmons praised Police for the calm achieved over Christmas but alleged that they seemed to lose interest in working towards a permanent peace once the holidays were over.

After the hotel raid on Thursday, December 31, he was turned down when he made a request for bail on behalf of the five Parkside members in custody, he said.

"Three out of the five men got bail [in court] on the Monday, in any event," he said. "They didn't gain nothing from refusing to release them over the weekend.

"The ceasefire was only broken from one side and that was because of the Police not continuing to play a role. They were absolutely not interested after New Year. We were not talking about dropping charges. We were not talking about a dereliction of duty by the Police officers.

"We are talking about the same thing they did for the 42nd member to allow him Police bail; to at least allow the dialogue that was bearing fruit to continue to bear fruit. The Police saw the fruits of the ceasefire but then abandoned it."

Mr. Simmons said the Island's spiralling gun violence — there have been 45 firearms incidents so far this year, including the four murders — would not be quelled without the Police's willingness to be flexible and work directly with gangs.

And he suggested it was unlikely that a ceasefire could be brokered again in the near future. He added: "But you never know. We should be ready, in any event, if an opportunity arises."

Speaking before Mr. Lynch's murder and before the shooting of a 22-year-old man on Saturday morning, Mr. Simmons said: "I think the next time gang warfare surfaces, it's going to be on a high scale, unless we, the community leaders, intervene soon. Gangs cannot do it alone."

Mr. DeSilva said: "I'm disappointed that he's not fully satisfied with the response that we have tried to provide. We certainly appreciate his involvement. We remain open to community engagement.

"But I remind the partners we engage with: we are in the law enforcement business first and foremost and I'm not about to break the law to enforce the law. Sometimes people expect us to do things that are not possible."

Mr. Simmons said: "Nobody wants to stop law enforcement. But if the Police are only interested in law enforcement and are not prepared to be flexible, then attempts to work with the community will be futile.

"I want to praise Mr. DeSilva for the effort but I hope that next time he can take it a step further or find ways to be more flexible and still carry out his duties."

The five men arrested at the Hamilton Princess hotel on New Year's Eve were charged in court in connection with the incident on January 4.

Jahkiel Samuels and Collin Hendrickson were remanded in custody, while Kenneth Caines, Dominique Daniels and Aaron Foggo were released on $5,000 bail with one surety.

Hendrickson admitted possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis and Rizla papers but denied intent to supply the drug. The others denied possession of cannabis and possession of Rizla equipment. Samuels also denied allowing cannabis to be used in a hotel room registered in his name.

A Magistrates' Court trial is pending.

n See tomorrow's edition of The Royal Gazette for an exclusive interview with Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva on tackling Bermuda's gangs.