Bermuda’s murder number to date has been reduced by one as, more than a month after the incident, the constabulary reveals a 07/07/2024 death was suicide.

The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) had been tight-lipped about 4 deaths in July, providing little information about the event.  Then, during a press conference, Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels – adaniels@bps.bm – stated to members of the media,

“As you have just heard from both the Acting Commissioner, Ms. Na’imah Astwood, and Superintendent Sherwin Joseph, Bermuda is currently navigating through both an unprecedented and difficult period, having to date experienced seven murders since Bermuda Day, a six-week period.”

The disclosure there had been 7 murders was only briefly queried by a member of the press which otherwise appeared content with the police backtracking to the single question with ‘we have not ruled that [murder] yet’.

Concerned by the apparent dismissal and disinterest, 11/07/2024, we asked Ms. Na’imah Astwood:

Regarding your press conference, http://www.bermudapolice.com/bps-press-conference-after-2-men-are-shot-dead/  I believe you owe the Bermuda public an explanation about the 07/07/2024 deaths.  During the conference, @ 6 minutes & 50 seconds, Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels unequivocally referred to the island having experienced ‘seven’ murders since Bermuda Day, a six-week period. A member of the attending press noted this too, but their question saw the BPS appear to backtrack.

1. 1. Why did Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels refer to the 4 deaths (07/07/2024) as murders?

1. 2. In 4 days, if murder has ‘not been ruled out’ for the 4 deaths (07/07/2024) i.e. not established, why convey that it has been determined at a press conference?

1. 3. Was Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels authorised to refer to the 4 deaths (07/07/2024) as murders, or was this an inadvertent disclosure?

1. 4. If inadvertent, what faith can be placed in the BPS ‘senior management team’ and the way BPS conduct their investigations?

Regarding help following the latest incident:

1. 5. Why has outside help apparently been ignored?

1. 6. What was meant by ‘We have a whole Bermudian community that knows exactly what’s going on in this community’, in particular given there appear to have been few arrests associated with recent events.

1. 7. When asked ‘Do we need more officers on the beat?’, what was mean by ‘We never turned down more’?

• • Have you been turning down more than usual, than before?
  • Do you have a shortage of officers, a difficulty recruiting and if so, how is this to be addressed?
  • Is it the case that most applicants fail due to poor education or drug use (current or past)?

More generally,

1. 8. Why is it considered, ‘a number of successful pre-planned and proactive operations in ‘recent’ (since December?) months have been successful given the increased incidence of shooting & murder?

1. 9. Does this not simply convey the extent of firearms possession & use; that this is greater than understood?

Thank you in anticipation of a detailed response

We received no response and subsequently wrote to Mr Daniels.  To date we have not received a reply.