Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2006
Source: Royal Gazette, The (Bermuda)
Copyright: 2006 The Royal Gazette Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.theroyalgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2103

THE DRUG DEALING LIFESTYLE IS TOO ATTRACTIVE -- TOM

Many of Bermuda's homes are taken care of by drug  money, former drugs
kingpin claims.

"Do you know how much drug money's taking care of  families in
Bermuda?" asked Tom, who spoke on condition  of anonymity. They have
these young guys who aren't  doing drugs -- just watching out for the
men and  getting paid.

"I'm talking bout little guys 13-year-olds down  Middletown (North
Hamilton), guys up Warwick, down  Backbush (Ord Road), they're
lookouts, that's how they  start. Next thing you look they're holding
the package.

"Next thing you look their selling the package. Next  thing, mama's
driving a new car and people wonder why  he's 16 and he's calling the
shots. He's paying the  bills."

Tom admitted his son has a hustler mentality even  though he doesn't
sell drugs. He sees what his father  does and mimics. "I needed money
for my son's tuition  -- I was a bit short one time. I went to the
bank and  they told me no. You know where I got the money from?
Another drug dealer. The bank told me no, a drug dealer  told me yes."

He said people looked at him and saw his two houses and  his children
attending a private school and thought he  lived a great lifestyle.
"I've worn all the gold and  the rings. I was in the barber shop one
time, had on my  big chain and my Rolex. A little guy says, 'Yo! I
want  to be like you'. I said 'you don't want to be like me'.  I mean
what type of role model am I?"

He also mentioned that he knew of people who lived in  houses
purchased by drug dealer relatives.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek