Bermudians are being given the chance to do something about the problems facing our youth at a think-tank to be held at the Warwick Workman's Club on Thursday, February 27.

"You can't want improvement and not do something to bring about improvement," said Government MP Dale Butler, whose writing group Writer's Machine is organising the event in conjunction with the Warwick Workman's Club. "We don't need any more moaning and groaning, we need people to come with critical, analytical minds to look at the causes (of these problems) and come up with solutions." The free event will begin at 6.30 p.m. with a light supper. At 7 p.m. president of the student government at the Bermuda College Dina Simas will give the Dr. E.F. Gordon memorial lecture.

After the speech, at 7.30 p.m., the audience will break up into several think tank groups to look at the causes of the youth issues in Bermuda today. They will examine areas such as violence, the role of churches and schools, and innovative youth programmes.

At 9.30 p.m. the groups will present their feedback and ideas about the issues. Volunteers are expected to meet the following Saturday to polish the information into a forum with the view of presenting it to churches, schools, and other organisations, as well as Government and the Opposition.

The event, added Mr. Butler, will transcend political lines: organised by a PLP MP, it will feature Opposition MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin reading the biography of her father, and Ms Simas will be introduced by the NLP's Graeme Outerbridge.

"We're encouraging everybody interested in hearing Dina and anyone with any ideas who wants to see something done to attend," said Mr. Butler. As a Government MP, he added, he was eager to take the issues raised during the think tank to the Minister, as he has successfully done in the past. In 2000 I raised the issue of a National Youth Commission," he said. "Government responded last week with the Government Youth Service Forum," held at Sonesta Beach Hotel by Youth & Sport Minister Randy Horton. "We've also seen an increase in the budget for youth and sport," said Mr. Butler.

"If Bermudians don't come they can't continue to run their mouths and say nothing is being done," he said. "I think something is being done.

"We've sent out invitations to all the churches, schools and clubs. We encourage as many people as possible to come."