Football matches have been called off in Bermuda this weekend in the wake of a series of shootings that left four people injured.
All games, from Premier Division to Under-16, have been postponed by the Bermuda Football Association (BFA).
A BFA special congress meeting on the situation is due to be held at the Devonshire Recreation Club on Sunday.
The decision came after the BFA held its second executive council in 48 hours, the first to postpone Friday night’s match between Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans.
Two shooting incidents took place on Remembrance Day on Tuesday – outside the National Sports Centre and later at Somerset Cricket Club – resulting in four people being injured.
There was another shooting incident on Thursday at Mount Hill in the central parish of Pembroke, where six shots were reportedly fired.
Three people were later arrested in Warwick.
Shadow Public Safety Minister Walter Roban has urged residents to come together and work with the police to tackle gun violence.
He said the shootings had “shocked and frightened all of Bermuda” and that the Progressive Labour Party “condemn those who have committed these acts and the total disregard for the law they have shown”.
Roban described the shootings as “a painful reminder that laws and policing are not enough to stem the scourge of gun violence”.
“Bermudians of all walks of life share our disgust, outrage and anger about events. Despite this, we must come together, work with the police and identify solutions that address the root causes of our young men targeting each other for death.
“We remind the people of Bermuda that this is a community issue and we must see addressing what has happened as not only a matter for the police, but all citizens to work to eliminate.”
Roban also urged government to ensure funding was available to tackle gun violence.
“Government’s current posture of fiscal austerity must not be allowed to limit what can be done to address these issues.”
Source-CMC
