A full team of Government Ministers including the Premier turned out yesterday to meet with business leaders worried about Bermuda's spiralling violence.

The meeting was requested by the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) following the riot at Wellington Oval.

Former BIBA chairman Jeff Conyers said the meeting went well and Government were more committed than ever to tackling it.

He said: "I think Government seems to be focused on doing things."

He denied international businesses were being frightened off by the violence as it was part of every community but he said everybody wanted more done to tackle it.

"Whenever something like this happens it brings back the issues of violence ? people are more volatile. It seems to be more acceptable to do certain things."

He said Bermuda had higher expectations because it was so small.

Premier Alex Scott, Finance Minister Paula Cox, Legislative Affairs Minister Michael Scott and a Police representative attended the meeting yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Conyers said the meeting did not cover new ground. "There's just a feeling of some momentum to do more than they have been doing."

He said BIBA already ran a local awareness programme in the schools getting students to realise the importance of international business. "There's a disenfranchisement issue. They don't feel like part of the system."

BIBA also runs the Youth Net mentoring programme allowing employees time off to work with children.

"Violence is a horrible issue. We all need to put our heads together and deal with it."