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Police believe Christmas travel partly the reason for drop in gang related incidents
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Bermuda's streets have been quiet over the Christmas period - thanks in some part to high level gang members heading to Jamaica for a winter break.
Seventeen people have been shot this year during escalating gun violence four men were shot dead, three in just 12 days.
Kumi Harford, 30, was murdered in a hail of bullets on St. Monica's Road on December 5, 2009. Ten days later Gary "Fingaz" Cann, 22, was murdered outside a private home on Southview Road, Sandys, and just two days later Shane Minors, 30, was shot dead on his doorstep on Friswells Hill at 1.30 a.m.
His body was not discovered until 6.30 a.m. as neighbours did not alert Police to the gunshots.
Many have attributed the community's groundswell of support for peace movements as well as various organisers who have brokered a cease fire for the lack of gunshots.
However, the Bermuda Police Service yesterday confirmed that a heavy travel period during Christmas was also a major factor.
A spokesman said the Bermuda Police Service could not give definitive answers on why activities had gone quiet in recent days, but said some of the more obvious reasons were:
* Heavy travel during Christmas period of various people both suspected of being involved with gang activities, as well as potential targets.
* Success in placing a number of persons before the courts for various criminal offences linked to gang activity.
* Increased Police visibility in and around identified hot spots, plus stop and searches.
* Targeting of gang members.
* Deployment of resources based on intelligence to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour.
One high level Police officer, who asked not to be named, said a charter flight which left the Island on December 19 bound directly for Jamaica would result in the use of guns falling.
"It's a who's who of top guys on that flight and their families, [along with other passengers]," he said. "The charter means they don't have to go through the States so they don't have to worry about being on the stop list [for any criminal convictions]. They are going down there to avoid the heat." The officer said most would return in the New Year.
Last week Police conducted 40 stop and searches though no one was arrested in connection with any of the murders this year.
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Bermuda's streets have been quiet over the Christmas period - thanks in some part to high level gang members heading to Jamaica for a winter break.
Seventeen people have been shot this year during escalating gun violence four men were shot dead, three in just 12 days.
Kumi Harford, 30, was murdered in a hail of bullets on St. Monica's Road on December 5, 2009. Ten days later Gary "Fingaz" Cann, 22, was murdered outside a private home on Southview Road, Sandys, and just two days later Shane Minors, 30, was shot dead on his doorstep on Friswells Hill at 1.30 a.m.
His body was not discovered until 6.30 a.m. as neighbours did not alert Police to the gunshots.
Many have attributed the community's groundswell of support for peace movements as well as various organisers who have brokered a cease fire for the lack of gunshots.
However, the Bermuda Police Service yesterday confirmed that a heavy travel period during Christmas was also a major factor.
A spokesman said the Bermuda Police Service could not give definitive answers on why activities had gone quiet in recent days, but said some of the more obvious reasons were:
* Heavy travel during Christmas period of various people both suspected of being involved with gang activities, as well as potential targets.
* Success in placing a number of persons before the courts for various criminal offences linked to gang activity.
* Increased Police visibility in and around identified hot spots, plus stop and searches.
* Targeting of gang members.
* Deployment of resources based on intelligence to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour.
One high level Police officer, who asked not to be named, said a charter flight which left the Island on December 19 bound directly for Jamaica would result in the use of guns falling.
"It's a who's who of top guys on that flight and their families, [along with other passengers]," he said. "The charter means they don't have to go through the States so they don't have to worry about being on the stop list [for any criminal convictions]. They are going down there to avoid the heat." The officer said most would return in the New Year.
Last week Police conducted 40 stop and searches though no one was arrested in connection with any of the murders this year.
is we run tings!
Even if it were true, it is irresponsible to perpetuate the prejudice against Jamaicans in Bermuda and other Caribbean countries. When I traveled to the Bahamas last year, the immigration young 'un looked at me, then at my US passport which noted that I was born in Jamaica, and said to me, "You can't be Jamaican" 
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