April 22, 2013Dear Sir,Dear Michael Dunkley, Minister for Public Safety. I Willard Fox, a concerned citizen, write to you about some of the young people who are holding this Island hostage through crime and fear. I watch the nightly news and I see a number of persons between the ages of 20 and 40 years-old going to prison for ten to 40 years. I don’t think they realise that they are throwing away their lives for a membership in a gang. I have heard some express that gang membership to them is like feeling a part of a family. Years ago a man or woman would feel ashamed to go to prison because it was embarrassing to the family. Today a man or woman act like it is an honour to go to prison. The way they show their gang signs on the TV camera while being escorted in or out of the courts with a smile on their face as if they just received a certificate of appreciation and a medal of honour. A prison warden once told me, when the door of the van shuts they start crying all the way to Westgate Correctional. It is really sad so many of these young people go to prison for such a long time.When Jonathan Smith was Police Commissioner he made a public statement that the police are aware of at least 12 drug lords. Minister Dunkley since you are the Minister for Public Safety I have never heard you mention anything about a drug lord being brought to justice. I ask the question, is it because they are untouchable? I am sure the police have given you some of the names they suspect. I suspect it is more economical to prosecute the drug dealer than the drug lord. It is time to get these drug lords doing life in prison, because they are committing murder to all who partake in this drug mess that has caused so much destruction in this island of Bermuda.Minister Dunkley you are always looking for solutions and I have one that I would like to talk to you about. There needs to be a separation of the short term and long term prisoners. I feel Bermuda needs to purchase some land abroad maybe the Caribbean to build a security prison to house all the prisoners doing five years or more. The present system is not working to deter the young person from crime. I never dreamed in my life I would witness so many senseless murders. I believe the shootings at present are just to challenge the police. An old friend of mine invited me to her son’s party and at his arrival she announced that the party was in honour of his return home from Casemate. I told her give me my $20 donation back because I do not support that kind of celebration and I left.WILLARD FOX