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The style of Perry Puckerin's killing at Hamilton Parish Workman's Club reminds me of IRA pub killings in the 1970s in Northern Ireland. Or Mafia-style assassinations.

Why? A 'hit team' walks into a crowded pub and shoots the target. The team stays in place long enough to say to the onlookers: "If any of you seen anything, youse is next."

The hit team then walk - not run - out of the pub, climb into a car and quietly drive away. That statement had the effect of instantly blinding every onlooker and instantly eradicating all recent memory. When the RUC and Army turned up, no one could remember anything nor could anyone recall seeing anything that might have suddenly caused two bullet holes to appear in the dead man's chest.

Although Mr. Puckerin was shot outside HPWC, I predict that the 10-12 people who were said to be 'present' but inside the club when Puckerin was killed are now all affected by the same quality of blindness and memory loss that used to hit those pub goers.

The same blindness and memory loss also applies to those moviegoers who were outside the Southside cinema when gunmen went into action there. Although again, the shooting did not take place in the full view of dozens of people, contrary to popular belief.

Just since December, Bermuda has leapfrogged into a deeply dangerous new era. It will be a while before we come out of it. And we'll probably only come out after the application of some unusual but successful tactics by the law enforcement agencies.

But while that time passes, we are likely to see the level of violence remain high, shootings and killings continue - though at a slower rate - and fear and 'blindness' and 'memory loss' will become a more widespread phenomenon.

People will leave

Overall, this community will get to feel much less secure and will respond in many negative ways. Overall, we'll also likely see a small exodus of those whose discomfort level has risen too high.

Overall, the response needed is aggressive action by a well-led government that understands that it must lead the community, and forcefully and quickly re-establish public confidence in the rule of law, and show that law and order agencies are successful at dealing with all kinds of lawlessness.

The tactical moves at the bottom end can always be highlighted and reported on by TV, radio, and in the newspapers. But it's the behind-the-scenes strategic government and community actions and reactions that will be - and in Northern Ireland were - the real determinants of real success. I hope that our tourism and international business will survive this next phase - which may last many months.

The current government has not displayed the understanding, the will or the strength to tackle this problem. Its usual and now almost automatic response of calling in outside experts (Rock Newman, Dr. Mincy, Kurron, Dr. Johnson...); its fundamentally dishonest action of stepping away from and then re-cozying back up to the Governor; the noticeable absence of public comment and visible support from the current leader of government do not constitute a display of strength of character. It is a display of weakness of character.

Since December 2, Mr. Harford, Mr. Cann, Mr. Minors, Mr. Puckerin. Coming at us now will be an obvious community affliction of blindness and memory loss.

Recovery has to start. We cannot afford, nor will this existing community survive the 30 years that it took in Northern Ireland. Recovery has to start at the top. It has to work its way down as fast as a caring, in-touch and energetic government that is concentrating on governing Bermuda can take action and push for results.

That kind of government is not what we currently have, nor are we likely to have it until after October 2010 - if Dr. Brown keeps his word to step down.

There are 37 weekends between now and October. Bermuda does not have time to waste. Strong leadership is needed now.

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