The mother of murdered Shaundae Jones last night appealed for members of the community to come together to tackle the real issues behind violence.

Just two days after burying her 20-year-old son, she challenged MPs, Police, community representatives and those affected by violence, both victims and perpetrators, to help her launch a committee to address the problems.

She said the Island could not afford to lose another young Bermudian in such a senseless way, and said the older generation had to take charge and show that life was not about aggression, revenge and such brutality.

The mother said somebody had to take charge of the growing problem of violent behaviour among young people, and said laws had to be tightened and weapons snuffed out.

"There has been too much said about the fact that we have to stop the violence, but it is now time that we sat down and figured out how we are going to do it," said Ms Jones.

"I think we should form a committee between Government, the churches, the Police and the nightclubs to see if we can solve the challenges we seem to be having.

"I will not let my son's death be in vain and am determined that some good will come out of it. They are messing with the wrong mama this time.

"A lot of these young men talk bad and act big, but underneath they are confused, insecure and looking for attention.

"If our children are not able to behave and act responsibly, and not able to patrol themselves, then maybe we should have people patrolling them, instead."

The brutal and cold-blooded murder of Shaundae last week sent shock waves across the Island.

He was gunned down as he sat in a car at Dockyard with his friends in the early hours of Sunday last week after leaving Club Malabar.

Shaundae, of Smith's Avenue, Warwick, was shot in the chest and died soon after, before reaching hospital.

His mother at first believed his death was in relation to the murder of young Tekle Mallory, who was stabbed to death outside Ice Queen in July 2001. Jahni Bean, one of Shaundae's best friends, was accused and acquitted of the murder in January this year, and her son was called to court to give evidence.

Co-accused Quincy Stanley Brangman was also acquitted of the murder.

Ms Jones said she believed the murder of Tekle, and the lack of a conviction, had created a big divide in some young men on the Island, which could have ultimately, though not directly, led to the death of her son.

She said she believed the divide could have been the "root cause", although she said her son had been involved in a fight two weeks earlier and that may have had something to do with his death.

She said someone at Club Malabar had deliberately thrown a drink in her son's face and he and some of his friends had then retaliated and became embroiled in a fight.

Ms Jones called on the manager of Club Malabar Anthony Butterfield to join the committee, along with other club owners, and suggested that clubs pay Police to have officers on patrol outside clubs, and said cameras should also be mandatory.

She said since her son's death, some of his friends had been threatened, and she just wanted the whole episode to end.

She added: "I have heard rumours some of the boys have been threatened since it happened and their parents are coming to me terrified. The sooner we get to the root of this evil, the safer this community will be.

"I have been told that some boys have been told they will be next, but how much more can Bermuda take. "I couldn't stand to see this happen to anyone else. I now know what the pain of losing a child is like, and when they shot Shaundae, my only child, they shot me, too."

Ms Jones last week had a major impact when she went to Dellwood Middle School and Berkeley Institute to talk to boys about the damage caused by violence, and her personal pain.

As a result, boys were reduced to tears after listening to her talks, and now other schools have come forward to say they would like her to visit them.

But Ms Jones said she wanted other people to come forward to join her in being an advocate against violence, whether they were victims, families of victims or former perpetrators who have turned around.

She added: "I am trying to pull myself together right now, but I want to plant the seed about the committee and the (advocates) group and hope that in a couple of weeks' time we can arrange some kind of meeting. I am looking for positive action.

"I have no hate for the people involved in this, but I want the people responsible for my son's death to be prosecuted and to do time for it."

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said the Service was always supportive of anyone attempting to improve the community, and said officers regularly attended meetings and forums on safety, violence and criminals acts.

And Warwick Government MP Elvin James said he would help her in any way he could to get the committee up and running.

He said he had been impressed by Ms Jones' determination to make sure that some good came out of her son's death.

"I think that view is shared by most in the community and if there is anything I can do, I definitely want to, to make sure his life was not in vain," said Mr. James.

"I know I speak for my running mate Dr. Ewart Brown, as well, when I say that if there is anything we can do to curb the violence we will. I would like to be on the committee.

"Of course, anyone interested in the committee can make contact through me, and we will try to set something up."

Mr. James can be contacted by telephone, or on e-mail, at nrjamesibl.bm.