Anyone linked to gangs or anti-social behaviour has been banned by Somerset Cricket Club.

Club president Alfred Maybury said last night that no one involved in such activity would represent them on the field or be allowed on the property.

He announced the move to more than 200 applauding residents during a community meeting at the club outlining ideas for tackling gang violence.

During a passionate speech, Mr Maybury said the decision for a “clean sweep” followed Tuesday’s shooting at the Somerset ground.

A gunman opened fire on a group of men sat outside the front of the Club just before 7pm on Remembrance Day.

Four men suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospital.

Mr Maybury said the club was taking “immediate” action to remove people they knew to be linked to gang activity, and said such persons would be out by the end of the week.

“No one involved in anti-social activity, gang activity, will be permitted to represent Somerset Cricket Club in any sport, including Cup Match,” he said.

“No one involved in anti-social initiatives will be permitted on the grounds of Somerset Cricket Club, including the front porch and bar area.

“No one involved with or associated with anti-social gangs will be permitted to rent or use the facilities.”

Mr Maybury said the club would be working with the police to screen members and players to not only know who had been convicted of such offences, but who were suspected of having links to gangs.

He admitted that “some of the guys involved come to Somerset Cricket Club, everybody knows that”.

“Everybody knows they are there and we haven’t done anything about it,” he said.

He encouraged the community to work together with the club to tackle the issue and outlined a plan for doing so.

“All we do is talk,” he said. “We’re now going to do some things that are going to hurt. It’s time.”

Mr Maybury, accompanied by Bishop Stephen Jones, urged the community to support a plan that, as well as banning people from the club, focused on gang prevention initiatives.

These include helping youth to socialise with those from other parts of the Island, introducing more sports in schools, ensuring children are involved in “positive” after-school clubs, and nurturing their talents rather than focusing solely on academic success.

Mr Maybury urged those with skill sets to perhaps take young people under their wing and train and mentor them, saying residents needed to act rather than just talk and show our young people they had prospects and skills.

“Take advantage of opportunities to give back,” he said. The community is ripe with talented people.”

He also said those turned away from the club would be given the chance to come back.

“Opportunities will be provided to those who seek assistance to change from anti-social involvement,” he said.

Also at the meeting were MPs Kim Wilson, Michael Scott, Dennis Lister and Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon-Pamplin.

The two candidates running in the Sandys South by-election tomorrow, Jamahl Simmons and Georgia Marshall, were also present.

Ms Wilson addressed the crowd “not as an MP, as a mother trying to raise her children in the Somerset community”.

“Forgive me if I offend anyone,” she said. “The problem and solution is us. We as parents know what’s going on in our house. We know if our child doesn’t work and comes home with a new bike, we should be asking questions.

“We can’t be blind anymore, we recognise this is spiralling out of control.” Ms Wilson urged parents with suspicions about their children’s activities to “call them out on it”, call the police and even tell them to get out of their house.

“Don’t count on everybody else to do it for you,” she said. “If you know what’s going on in our community, your home, ask the questions.”

Bermuda Football Association also held a meeting yesterday at Devonshire Recreation Club to discuss last week’s shootings.

Among those attending was Premier Michael Dunkley, who urged those with information to come forward.

“There are people in the community who know what took place and know the individuals involved,” he said. “If we want to protect wrong then we are not living in Bermuda, we are living in some other place that we do not want any part of.

“Bermuda needs to step up and root out the rot that’s taking place or else the rot will just get worse.”