More than 200 young people and adults turned out for a pilot youth forum.

The event on Friday focused on problems such as bullying, suicide gang violence and the decriminalisation of cannabis.

Kasia Burgess, 18, from CedarBridge Academy, Vincent Darrell, 14, and Ywione Darrell, 16, from Saltus Grammar and Mya Jones, 16, from CedarBridge Academy led the discussion.

Ywione told the audience: “This is just the tip of the iceberg ­— we’re looking to do more discussions like this, addressing other issues. This is not the last and final thing.”

Veronica Outerbridge, a family therapist, told the crowd: “You may not agree with them — but they have a voice.

“This is just a step — what they have to say, there’s more to be said.”

Ms Outerbridge added: “If you keep putting stuff under the rug, you’re going to trip on it.

“We must get back to the village raising Bermuda.”

She was speaking at the Heritage Worship Centre on Hamilton’s Dundonald Street at the first of what will be regular forums.

Ms Outerbridge said future topics could include political subjects such as independence.

Among the guests were Alison Crocket, the Deputy Governor, Tinée Furbert, a Government MP, clerics, Juan Wolffe, the senior magistrate and magistrate Tyrone Chin.