The Executive Director of the Family Learning Centre is calling for Government to create a plan to combat the rising violence in the community.

Martha Dismont said yesterday: "We cannot allow the recent violent events to define us as a Country.

"We are defined by our strengths, not weaknesses. We must use our strengths to overcome our challenges.

"Until we get a handle on how to stop the gang fighting, punches will continue to be thrown."

She called for the Country's leaders to make steps to get the Island back on track, including establishing clear leadership for the issue.

"It seems we have the entire country trying to lead. It rarely works to have so many chefs."

She also called for the development of a task force to isolate the source of the problem and the establishment of neighbourhood watch programmes in every neighbourhood.

She also called for leaders to identify any barriers and work out how to deal with them.

"Individual community members will not like some of the tough decisions that may have to be made, but we need to make them in the interest of decisive action and the country's well-being."

The problems, according to Mrs. Dismont, have been brewing for more than ten years.

"Children are the innocent victims. Fallen adults are victims of a society that must do a better job of looking after each other with care and compassion.

"Now that our young people and our badly behaving adults truly have our attention, we must take advantage of this space in time and put in the real effort required to achieve lasting, healthy change."