The island is in a state of emergency that must be met with immediate action, according to the Opposition.

Jarion Richardson, the leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, spoke out after the deaths of six people in the past five days.

The OBA called for the community to come together and co-operate with the police — and also urged the Government to bolster the ranks of the Bermuda Police Service.

At a press conference yesterday morning, Mr Richardson said: “These tragic events feel like it’s Bermuda under siege. It feels like there’s nothing but fear, there’s nothing but confusion in our community.

“Now we are in an emergency state, we’re in a national crisis. Now is not the time for small steps. Now is not the time for real debates. Now is the time for conclusive and decisive action against a tide that is drowning us.

“Our uniformed services are on the job. Being a former police officer, I’ve been in that yard, on that street, in that house. I’ve heard the families’ cries, I’ve seen what happens to them.

“I know what its like to be a Bermudian to be living in this environment with you, beside you. My colleagues and I are members of the community. No one lives in an ivory tower — not for us, and so we feel for you, we hear you, we are listening.

“Even though this is a hard time, there is a hope in Bermuda. There always was, there always will be.

“We have to support the police at this time and provide information that you know, provide assistance for all the emergency services.

“My friends and colleagues are working hard. They will be out there, you will see them and I want to make sure that we support them as they combat this scourge in our society.

“Bermuda is dominated by the silent majority — those of us who want to live in peace, those of us who only want to wake up, go to work, raise a family, experience life.

“We are the silent majority and we are strong. We will come out of this stronger. As we navigate this challenge together, I urge you to reassure each other, to keep calm, and most especially never forget that we will come out of this together.”

Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of National Security, said 2024 was turning out to be a “terrible” year.

He added: “But it’s 2024 compounded in all the years that have passed — 30-plus murders unsolved, seven within the last seven weeks.

“We’ve heard the prayers and condolences way too many times. At some point we have to see action.

“So yes, there are multiple things that have to be done to change the direction of our country, specifically to give support to our young Black men so that they don’t have to make the decisions they’re making, leading to them being in this criminal activity.

“But make no mistake, we have to deal with the crisis that we have right now and that means that we have to have enough police to do this job.

“At the height of the police service there were 480 police officers and right now we are under 360.

“Right now we are dealing with a level of criminality in our country that has never been seen before.

“We cannot get out of this by prayers alone. We will have to give the police the resources in order for them to stomp out what is happening to our country.

“We also have to support what needs to be done today. And if that means you have to change the Budget to get the police force up to the level right now, so that they can do the job, then that’s what has to happen.

“This is not a ‘wait until tomorrow’. The country is hurting.

“We can no longer accept this behaviour. Every time we see this, this is a Black male killing another Black male and we lose both of them. How many families have to suffer?

Mr Smith added: “When we talk about trauma, it is multigenerational trauma.

“Many of these young men are the children of the generation that was dying in 2009, 2010.”