Receiving a standing ovation at the Crimestoppers International Conference at the Fairmont Southampton Princess was perhaps one of the most moving moments in Dennis Watson's prolific career.

"It was heartwarming because it happened at the place where I used to work as a waiter," he said.

"To come back 25 years later as the keynote speaker at an international conference was a major blessing in itself."

For Mr. Watson those 25 years have been extremely distinguished ¿ Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton have all commended his contribution to society, while this year he also earned praise from Democratic presidential election frontrunners Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Mr. Watson, who lives in New York, was awarded the 2007 Distinguished Youth Leadership Award from the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has also been honoured by more than 250 US mayors who have declared a Dennis Watson Day in their cities. He is also considered as 'One of the 50 Best Black Speakers in America'.

Just last week Mr. Watson received another award for 'Leadership', from the Florida African American Student Association. He spoke to representatives on why the hip hop generation should shun "the thug life of instant gratification as seen on BET/MTV and pick up the mantle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Thurgood Marshall, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, and Coretta Scott King".

By doing so, he says the younger generation can "lift up the names and sacrifices of their own mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and the community at large".

Mr. Watson says the gang problem infiltrating communities around the world can be attributed to "the Americanisation of our youth globally". He blames television, youth unemployment, peer pressure, trying to develop a reputation, and trying to establish a sense of manhood.

In Bermuda he believes gangs cannot exist in such a close-knit society. "I do not believe there are any gangs in Bermuda," said Mr. Watson. "The country does not lend itself to gangs as it is divided into nine parishes, everyone knows each other, and there's nowhere to escape to.

"But I think that instead of gangs, there are thugs. They are young teens who have all of this pent-up negative energy that needs a release.

"Being aggressive is part of being a young person. You're trying to discover your identity so you can make better choices and decisions, but choices made in youth often follow you into adulthood. Being put on the US Stop List at 18 will last forever."

What Mr. Watson is concerned about is the rise in violent crime in Bermuda, particularly the recent murder of 25-year-old Shaki Crockwell. He says one solution is to go back to basics, starting with the family ¿ encouraging parents to give their youngsters quality time. Young people also need mentors ¿ men and women in the wider community whom they can look up to.

Next year he says he plans to return to his Island home and set up a National Youth Leadership Council to give the younger generation guidance and self-respect.

Mr. Watson was born in Ord Road, Paget, and was raised in Horseshoe Road, Southampton. He attended Ord Road Primary, Southampton Glebe, and Prospect Secondary School for Boys, before going abroad to study at Fordham University, Pace University and New York University.

Now in his 50s, he credits his parents, teachers and mentors in the wider community with putting him on the right track in life.

"I grew up in a generation where teachers loved you and disciplined you, guided you and put you on a path to success," said Mr. Watson.

"My mother worked as a hotel maid for 40 years and I grew up in hard times, in poverty, wearing second-hand clothes, and knowing the difficulty of putting food on the table. Two weeks ago in Bermuda I went to see my elementary teacher, Dorothy Tatem (wife of Thomas Neville Tatem). She is 93-years-old and I went back to sit at her feet and thank her for her knowledge and love, and for being a disciplinarian.

"Today I feel young people have no discipline because they rule the house. The reason for this is because parents cave in to them, because of TV and peer pressure, and they are trying to give their children what they themselves never had. But the bottom line is that in my generation my mother and father laid down the law with house rules. My generation had a no nonsense approach."

In the community, Mr. Watson said his mentors included Dr. Roosevelt Brown, Earl Hart, Walter Robinson, Lloyd James, Mansfield (Jim) Brock, Dame Lois Browne Evans, Gaynelle Robinson and Dalton Tucker.

"These people were instrumental in keeping me full of self-respect and self love," he said.

"For the past 30 years I've travelled around America, Africa and the Caribbean talking about success and leadership, telling young people to be successful and to make their families proud of them, particularly their mothers and fathers.

"These days children are growing at such alarming speed, that at the age of 12 they think they're adults. This is down to technology such as TV and iPods. And as Bermudians we have to once again become stakeholders and shareholders in the development of this generation.

"I get my sense of manhood from a spiritual core, from men who were my role models. Back in the day many were not afraid to apologise for whatever wrong they had done, but today, false pride stops those young folks from saying sorry beause they feel less of a person, so my suggestion is that we need Bermudian males and people over 30 to help mentor the younger generation once more.

"We're talking clergy, teachers and politicians, and we need to have a series of seminars in each of the nine parishes to discuss youth issues.

"There is no reason for any young Bermudian to be out stealing a tourist's pocketbook on the richest island on earth, or breaking into someone's house just to steal a DVD player. It's just all stuff.

"And no one should be walking around Bermuda taking the lives of others. When you look at the reasons why people kill each other, it all comes down to nonsense here. But we are one family, unlike other nations with such big populations.

"Rather than having to build more police stations, why can't we police ourselves like we did many years ago? We're an Island of 65,000 people so we ought to be the number one island on earth for reducing cime, by reducing anti-social behaviour. Crime is a result of anti-social behaviour run amok."

Mr. Watson said: "I grew up in a time where families gave you a lot of time and attention. We played games together such as marbles, skipping ropes, and swimming. Today because of the technological advances we don't do the things we used to do so it all comes back to the family, going back to where we used to be, despite the technology."

Mr. Watson said: "God has blessed me to make a difference and we are going to try and save this generation. The Bermudian youth are hungry for someone who can talk to them in a language they can understand.

"What we need to do, to make Bermuda all it can be, is to have a series of youth initiatives to keep young people away from bad influences and to enrol every Bermudian in a positive leadership programme.

"I am returning to Bermuda for good in 2008 and am going to set up a National Youth Leadership Council. The Bermudian youth need a sense of purpose and determination. They need integrity and hope, somebody to inspire them to lift up their mothers and fathers, and not bring any shame and sorrow to their family name."

Mr. Watson said that in his youth, Carole Ann and Earl Furbert's 'We Are People Too' group helped to put him on the right track. "That turned me around because anyone can get caught up in the criminal element. I was hanging around with a bad crowd," he said.

"My job now is to turn people around and I believe anyone going through anything negative can be turned around. I am coming back in 2008 to help make a difference."

Mr. Watson is inviting all Bermudians to contact him at: saving.ouryouth[AT]yahoo.com