The Department of Youth and Sport sent delegates to America to learn more about gang culture as part of its National Youth Development Strategy, MPs heard yesterday. Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, said in the House of Assembly that Calvin Ming, formerly of the Department of Court Services, and three other delegates attended the gang conference.

"We learned a lot," Mr. Ming told last night. "The real issue is the gangs are slightly different here than in the US."

Mr. Ming said he was presently sorting through the information as there were differences in the gang cultures of Bermuda and the US.

One of the main differences was that American gangs were more established as they had existed for a longer period of time.

In the House last night Mr. Butler said: "The Department is demonstrating its commitment to this strategy by having Calvin Ming of the Department of Court Services, who has long demonstrated success in youth development issues in these islands join us temporarily to play a leadership role in moving the initiative forward. He has already brought new life into the implementation of the strategy".

Mr. Butler said the Youth Development programme was the responsibility of Youth Co-ordinator Keith Smith and was allocated an estimated $528,000 this financial year.

The programme aims to build leadership skills in Bermuda's youth.

"We are currently developing with the Bermuda College and other overseas entities a Youth Leadership Certificate Programme to offer to those volunteers and interested persons in the community, an opportunity to receive first-hand training locally in the area of youth leadership certification," Mr. Butler said. Some of the objectives of Youth Services was to ensure young people took part in local and international youth service conferences.

They also sponsored young Bermudian, Starla Bean, to attend a United Nations Leadership Conference. "Ms Bean has been changed as a result of that experience and I am confident that she will now be able to positively influence others."

Mr. Butler said a dozen young Bermudians would be travelling to Borneo with Raleigh International to help in building the infrastructure of rural areas.

"Our department will sponsor three students from our community centres to attend."

He added he so firmly believed in the trip's importance that he intended to personally visit the youth in Borneo. Another way to keep youths off the streets was day care services and summer camps, Mr. Butler said.

"The estimate of $808,000 provides for a six week varied summer programme of sport, music, arts and crafts, dance, special events, day trips, snorkelling and riding for young people of school age. Approximately 160 part-time staff, 80 percent of whom are university and college students , conduct this programme conducted by teachers".

Grants were also provided to, among other things, youth service agencies, an annual school quiz, and a community youth music workshop.

The Department would give an estimated $101,000 to the girl guides, sea cadets and big brothers and sisters, said Mr. Butler.

Four community centres in St. George's, Hamilton, Somerset and Boaz Island were funded and his Ministry had been looking for a piece of property in Pembroke to build another one, but so far could not get one.

A total of 44 staff ? 18 full-time and 26 part-time, worked at the centres.

Mr. Butler said it was expected to cost $976,000 to operate camping facilities on four islands plus Messina House next year.

He lauded the Department's website www.youthandsport.bm which listed activities for Bermuda's youth. A second site is being written by young people for young people and should be online by April 2005.

However, said Government could spend money in better ways. He said the cost of travel for the Ministry had increased from $250,000 in 1998 to $50,000 in 2005.

And he said social clubs could double as venue for after-school programmes. "Look at the number of children in after-school programmes ? 19,000. That is a lot of young people. Look at the average cost per year per child and it is $80 per year per child. Government spends $62,000 per inmate per year for the prisoners at Westgate...If you want to make a difference, Youth and Sport is the way to do it!"