Although attendance at the March Against Violence rally held by the Bermuda College yesterday ran like a who's who of Bermuda politics and law enforcement, few of the young people the march was aimed at showed up.

And Minister of Home Affairs Terry Lister admitted Bermuda has been hearing much of the adult point of view on the issue of rising violence and crime in our community.

But he said: “We haven't heard from the young people ... I thought it was very positive, good that the young people are coming together.”

Schoolchildren were well represented, with students from Victor Scott, Sandys Middle School, Paget Primary, St. George's Prep, Prospect, Gilbert, Spice Valley, The Youth Centre and CedarBridge attending.

A plethora of Government and Opposition politicians attended, including Mr. Lister, Education Minister Paula Cox and Acting Premier Alex Scott who took front row seats at the rally, while Warwick East MP Dale Butler was in the crowd. Opposition leader Grant Gibbons was happy to “wear off a bit of shoe leather” by marching, and the UBP's Jamahl Simmons and Sen. Neville Darrell were also there.

Police media spokesman Dwayne Caines donned a “Turn it Around” T-shirt, and Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith also appeared. Premier Jennifer Smith, who is off the Island, sent her regrets that she was unable to attend the rally, but expressed her pleasure at the efforts of the student government and the West Indian Association in putting on the march and rally.

In fact, the only group that were conspicuously lacking from the march were college-age youths themselves, apart from members of the student government, the Bermuda College Players and the Bermuda College Choir.

“I think it's important to stand up and be counted,” Dr. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette.

As one speaker, former prison inmate Andre Minors put it: “We need to give (the young people of Bermuda) a voice likewise ... I never had that. No, that's incorrect, I never took the opportunity ... One of the things necessary for me to do was accept the opportunity.”

And Mr. Lister also called on young people to come forward and make their voices heard. “Not only the college, those finding themselves out on the street in the middle of the night, we need to hear from them,” he said after the rally.

“We are encouraging young people to take responsibility for their own lives - that's what the march was about.”

The young voices that were heard were loud and clear.

“The force that rules the nation is conduct,” said Bermuda College Student Council president Dina Simas. “Bermuda is dying. Trust is dying, respect is dying, innocent lives are dying, family and friends are dying ... Fellow youth: do you want to die too?

“Is it worth it?” she asked. “Stop wasting your life ... if you want to fight, fight for your dreams.

“You are all intelligent people. Believe not in your weapons, believe strongly in yourself.”

“You know what?” said Student Council treasurer Sarah Tucker. “It's not too late ... if each would just reach one.

“Ask them, why? Why risk their own freedom, their family's peace, their own life? It isn't always easy to walk away, but it is always in your power to do so.”

And Mr. Minors expressed his belief that Bermuda's youth were reachable.

“These young men are not write-offs,” he said. “We have to help them.”

Calling on young black men to stand up and be role models, he said: “Our families, our communities, our churches are suffering as a result of us.

“It's because of us, men.”