Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Reaction to the death of teenager Kellon Hill

Nancy Mota a close friend of slain teenager Kellon Hill, reads the RIP graffiti which has been placed throughout Kellon’s neighborhood of Camp Hill in Warwick

Four more Island voices give their thoughts on the recent death of teenager Kellon Hill and what they believe the community needs to do next.

Former Tourism Minister Renee Webb: "Aside from being a major tragedy for the family of Kellon, the families of all of the young people involved and for the young people themselves, it is a tragedy and blight on the Bermuda community.

"The time has come when more stringent measures are enforced for young people, many of whom do not have parental guidance at home. I suggest that a curfew be implemented for youngsters under the age of 18. This should be set at 11 p.m. or earlier, and enforced by both the law and the parents who will be held accountable if their children are out on the streets unaccompanied after curfew regardless of the circumstances.

"Secondly, the serving of alcohol should be monitored with ID required before a drink is served. In most States in the US for example it is against the law to serve alcohol to any person under the age of 21 years. Clubs, bars etc. are penalised if they serve alcohol to those under age. This needs to be enforced by law.

"Thirdly, the drug culture which is so prevalent on the Island needs to be addressed in a very real way. Drugs must be stopped before hitting the Island, the beneficiaries of the trade must be put out of business, and users helped when and wherever possible to rid the Island of it's scourge.

"Until we address these issues Bermuda's future is doomed and the lives of so many will suffer. Because we have such a high per capita income drugs fetch a high premium here, the local and overseas drug barons are only too happy to serve the demand and ruin so many lives. Government, the community, educators, religious leaders, parents, all must come together and save our Island home from the madness which is currently permeating throughout. The violent action of some of our young people around the death of Kellon is a result of the world that they live in, in Bermuda, being sadly out of control."

Michael Clarke, the brother of murder victim Matthew Clarke: "The tragic death of Kellon has shocked the community and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I used to take music lessons with his dad at their house and it was always a lively place with kids all over.

"With regards to where do we go from here as a community, the problems and solutions are fairly self-evident to me. The problems include a breakdown of family structures leaving a vacuum that gangs fill, and with the gangs then supporting themselves primarily via the lucrative drugs trade.

"The gang mentality then fosters not only an attitude that human life is cheap, but that somehow someone is 'more of a man' when they take someone's life. If we want to fix the problem with gangs and drugs violence in general, we need to cut off their method of finance.

"A Government dispensary for illicit substances would have the effect of immediately cutting off the source of funding for gangs and they will be forced to get real jobs. It would also reduce deaths from drug use as there would be improvements in safety (no additives or impurities and no sharing of needles, etc.).

"Many upstanding members of the community will quickly dismiss this as the government facilitating the use of illicit substances would send the wrong message to the children.

"If history teaches us anything, it shows that attempts to legislate morality are doomed to failure. Make no mistake, there is no way to solve the gang problem in Bermuda without cutting off their source of funds.

"Any attempts to crack down using force will only be met with an increasingly organised and ruthless resistance (note the example of alcohol prohibition in the US).

"Any attempts to reduce the supply simply increases prices thus making the trade more lucrative and causing an increase in crime as addicts need more money to support their fix.

"While it may sound radical, we have the examples of Vancouver and Holland which demonstrate that a sane and humane approach to the issue of substance use dramatically reduces the organised crime (gangs) and drug-user related crime.

"We have clear evidence that our current policies and approach are not working and we have clear examples of what does work from other countries.

"I am saddened by the tragic crimes that are occurring in our community but even more distressing is that when there are obvious solutions, all we will get from politicians are pithy responses, sound bites, and empty promises.

"Over the past two decades we have been seeing more single-parent families with younger girls having children. With this situation, it is obvious that there needs to be more discipline and if children do not get it at home, then they need to get it at school.

"One of the biggest mistakes ever made in this country was the removal of corporal punishment right at the point where it was increasingly needed.

"I sincerely hope that someone who is in a position to effect change in these areas will have the courage to espouse a different direction. I am not optimistic that this will be the case."

Environmentalist Stuart Hayward: "For too long we have loudly lamented the passing of each young person either maimed on our roads or slain by other young people.

"We are quick to blame but slow to train and retrain. If we believe better parenting is an answer then we must find ways to inject improved parenting skills into today's families, and tomorrow's.

"Is there an elected leader willing to forego the shallow and divisive satisfaction from scolding and finger-pointing, and instead engage all stakeholders in meaningful dialogue toward intervention? If so, let him or her stand up."

United Bermuda Party Leader Kim Swan: "As Opposition Leader I am deeply troubled by the events that claimed the life of young Kellon Hill.

"Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for the family. Our Party grieves along with everyone living in Bermuda, for the family of the victim as they prepare to bury their young son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend – someone they had nutured and dreamed great things for.

"My heart aches that yet another young life has been lost. The time has come for us all to collectively recognise that our value system is being put to a real test.

"There is an important quotation I respect and am guided by: 'When all else fails who do you turn to?'

"Bermuda, the time has come for each and everyone of us - especially we as parents - to look inward and ask ourselves that question.

"Our value system has seriously slipped its moorings and is well adrift on the turbulent 'sea of life'.

"May God bless the family of Kellon Hill and may Kellon rest in peace."