MPs have pledged to work in concert to bring down violent crime in Bermuda — and have urged the entire island to do the same.

The call came during a lengthy debate in the House of Assembly yesterday over a new direction for calming violence and gang activity.

The National Violence Reduction Strategy was unveiled in the Throne Speech last month. A document outlining its objectives was tabled in the House on November 15.

Opening the debate, Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, said the strategy represented “the collective will of our community” joining forces to confront “the reality of violence and its devastating impact”.

Mr Weeks said the strategy would “build upon the legacy of earlier initiatives” such as the Interagency Gang Task Force, the Interagency Gang Enforcement Team and the Interagency Community Response.

He added: “As our challenges have evolved over time, the National Violence Reduction Strategy expands upon these efforts, recognising that violence extends beyond gangs and requires a broader, more integrated approach.”

MPs heard the strategy was based on a three-tier structure consisting of a steering committee, an enforcement team and a community response unit.

It comes with eight goals, including early intervention, strengthening community resilience and support systems, and the “restoration” of gang members.

Mr Weeks said: “By addressing the root causes of violence and prioritising the reintegration of affected individuals into society, we aim to create a safer, more equitable Bermuda for future generations.

“The National Violence Reduction Strategy represents a collective vision for Bermuda ‒ a strategy that builds on the successes of the past while charting a bold, forward-looking path to address the root causes of violence.”

The minister said that the initiative sought to plug gaps and also strip back on overlaps between ministries.

Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of National Security, assured MPs that the Opposition fully backed the strategy.

He said: “One of the things that I think is important is that we all realise that it is our collective responsibility. It's also our individual responsibility, because it's going to take everybody in our country to believe that these changes have to happen in order for the changes to take hold.

“We have a problem in our community here. We speak a lot in this document about gang violence, but let's be honest — we have an anger management issue in our community.”

He added: “But it won't be as simple as putting some words down on a document. It is going to take both sides of the House.

“It's going to take our church leaders, our teachers, our coaches, our parents ‒ everybody collectively has to understand that this is our problem.”

Mr Smith also questioned how some of the strategy’s objectives would be financed.

He said: “Our problems are deep-rooted. It's going to take a lot of people rolling up their sleeves, and it's also going to take a lot of money.

“If what we need is more support in the social services, that's going to mean more people, more training for those people, giving them the ability to go into these environments with numbers.”

Mr Smith pointed out that the strategy called for more community policing, but that the Bermuda Police Service were undermanned at present.

He said: “If the service is not going to be able to get to a strong enough level until 2026, are we pouring water into a bucket that has a hole in it?”

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said that the Government had 81 cross-ministry services and programmes to address crime and its fallout ‒ and that they had been effective in reducing incidents of violence in recent years.

The minister added that, because of the island’s small size, Bermuda was well positioned to develop “social cohesiveness” ‒ a key weapon in the war on violence.

That claim was backed by Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour.

Mr Hayward said statistics indicated that crime overall was down, and had decreased substantially since 2000.

He added: “Murder and serious assaults remain a relatively small portion of our overall crime statistics.”

“This is a collective issue and we need a holistic and collective response,” he said.

Mr Hayward said while Bermuda remained one of the safest places in the world, the violence reduction strategy showed where more was needed.

Opposition leader Jarion Richardson, a former police officer, suggested community policing could prove effective in tackling violence in the long term.

He said it was “not just about arresting people” but had an “invaluable” impact on the community, with the public more inclined to trust community police officers and feel comfortable approaching them with information.

Mr Richardson told the House that Bermuda worked best with the police “embedded” in the community, and called on more police outreach in schools.

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, told MPs that Bermuda was not alone, with a cycle of violence sweeping the Caribbean region.

He said: “Violence is systemic, and everyone has recognised that they have a role to play.

“We must have an ongoing, sustainable plan to address violence.”

Opposition MP Craig Cannonier said he was impressed that both sides of the House had joined in concern over the island’s violence.

In a show of unity, the former premier recognised Mr Weeks as “a friend” who had been handed a tough assignment.

Mr Cannonier added that there were many “predators” who took advantage of gaps or loopholes within the island’s legal system.

He said much of what was mentioned in the violence reduction strategy was “nothing new” and called on Mr Weeks to disclose how aspects of the plan would be implemented.

He also noted that early intervention started at the home and said it was “vitally important” for setting the stage for generations to come.

Wrapping up the 4½-hour debate, Mr Weeks thanked MPs from both sides of the House for their contributions.

He said: “This strategy is more than anti-gang; it’s antiviolence. That’s why we brought everybody to the table.

“It’s not a PLP issue, it’s not an OBA issue; it’s a community issue, a country issue, and we all have to do our part.

“It sounded like one joined-up government today.”

At the end of the debate, House Speaker Dennis Lister asked MPs if they approved the document.

There was a roar of support. The “nays” were silent.