“Deliberate distractions” over the salary paid to the man heading Bermuda’s anti-gang efforts will not deter the work within the ministry, the national security minister says.

Wayne Caines used his time in the House of Assembly this morning to outline a number of initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of National Security team in its first 11 weeks.

Earlier this week, Pastor Leroy Bean was announced as Bermuda’s gang violence reduction co-ordinator.

Mr Caines said: “I am determined that work within the ministry will not be defined by deliberate distractions created by criticisms of the salary paid to Pastor Bean or long-settled issues around previous projects.”

Mr Caines said the party was elected to “tackle the systemic racial and economic issues” that have lead to gang violence and antisocial behaviour.

He added: “For too long the narrative has been dictated by those whose interests are more aligned with the sport of character assassination and not with achieving social justice and economic equality.”

Mr Caines also touched upon previously announced measures, including the relaunching of the inter-agency gang task force and financial support for Team Street Safe.

A number of other initiatives were also discussed by the minster.

Mr Caines said: “Understandably, in recent years the Ministry of National Security has become defined by the work of the police and policies related to gun violence.

“This does occupy a tremendous amount of time and focus but the ministry is more than that.”

According to Mr Caines, a recruitment course with eight trainee firefighters has begun, with plans for another course to start in early next year.

“Without this, we run the risk of burnout among our first responders.”

Recruitment for customs, the role of the Department of Corrections, and the responsibilities of the Bermuda Regiment were also briefly discussed by the minister.

• To read Mr Caines’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”