The recent op-ed by One Bermuda Alliance MP Robert King presented a distorted, pessimistic view that undermines the efforts of those who are working every day to build a safer Bermuda. Mr King states there are “35 unsolved murders”.

What he fails to mention is that these cases date back more than 20 years, some from when the OBA was in power. What he also failed to mention is that operational control of the Bermuda Police Service, the body responsible for the investigation of those murders, is the direct responsibility of the Governor — not the government of the day.

The OBA either did not know that or is deliberately using an emotive issue to deceive Bermudians for political gain.

What Mr King also failed to mention is that public co-operation — not politicians — is a key component in solving cases and bringing criminals to justice.

As the Government, we:

• Increased funding for the Bermuda Police Service

• Put in place funding to put 30 new police officers on the street, with a recruitment drive in progress

• Invested in new equipment for the BPS, including additional vehicles and technology

• Installed CCTV cameras across the island

•Launched Bermuda’s first witness protection programme in 2010

On road safety, we have increased roadside-sobriety checkpoints and launched public campaigns targeting impaired driving. In 2024 alone, police conducted hundreds of random sobriety stops and issued hundreds of citations.

Unfortunately, no government can stop anyone from making a tragic, split-second decision.

On youth violence, we:

• Launched the National Violence Reduction Strategy

• Launched the National Youth Strategy

• Expanded funding for early intervention and education

• Expanded funding for mental health support

• Expanded funding for rehabilitation programmes

• Launched education opportunities and awareness programmes to equip parents with the tools to recognise warning signs of gang involvement, bullying and emotional struggles in their children

• Expanded community and job-training programmes to give young people constructive outlets for their energy and creativity

• Increased funding for youth-focused initiatives that promote leadership, discipline and self-respect

• Continued to fund peer-mediation programmes and conflict-resolution training to help our youth learn how to handle disputes peacefully

The OBA may believe that tougher policing is the answer, but we believe that those factors that drive criminal behaviour — poverty, lack of education, mental health and family dysfunction — must be addressed as well.

We know that the work isn’t finished. But to suggest that nothing is being done is not true and is unfair to the men and women on the front lines working tirelessly to keep Bermudians safe.

The OBA may believe that this is the time for tearing each other down but we believe it's time for teamwork.

We invite the OBA to move beyond the politics of fear and join us in building a Bermuda that is not only safer, but fairer, more united, and more hopeful for every family.

• Lindsay Simmons is a government senator and the Junior Minister of Home Affairs, Youth, Social Development and Seniors, and National Security