stemming crime in the West End community.

"We've got to stand up to these guys, because they're ruining the Country here, and they're ruining Somerset,'' said Mr. Neil Virgil, who runs the Loyalty Inn.

Mr. Virgil, who was among about 50 people that turned out for a Sandys Community Group meeting at St. James' Church Hall, was referring to groups of young men who have been striking fear into residents for years.

"There's only one way we're going to solve this problem,'' he said.

"We've got to give the Police power -- tell them, `Deal with them, and we'll back you.' "The problem is nobody wants to step on anybody's foot.'' A six-member panel chaired by Sandys North Progressive Labour Party MP Mr.

Eugene Cox heard a wide range of suggestions from the audience -- including a ban on the sale of liquor.

Sandys South PLP MP Mr. Walter Lister said the Sandys Community Group was first formed about four years ago to deal with the problem of young men who were creating trouble by hanging around across from the Royal Naval Field.

"Although we addressed the problem of moving them from there, the problem itself if not totally licked,'' said Mr. Lister. "That's why we've come back tonight for a rethink. To move the young men from one place to another is not solving the problem.'' Young men are now creating problems for other merchants and residents by gathering closer to St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.

While he had seen a gradual increase in crime over the years, "this past year we've seen a substantial increase'', and "I've never seen it so bad before, ever in my life'', Mr. Lister said.

Mr. Virgil said many young people had lost respect for their elders and did not want to work. He recently approached the men hanging out in Somerset and offered $7 an hour, lunch, and free transportation to do a little painting, he said. "I didn't get one.'' But another woman complained of a lack of opportunities for young black men.

She paid $60,000 for her son to get a degree in business administration and economics, but "he does not have a job in his field'', she said. Instead, he was sorting mail at the Post Office.

Sandys North PLP MP Mr. Dennis Lister, another panel member, called for treatment facilities for drug addicts.

Also on the panel were Sandys Parish Constable Mr. Christopher Clarke, a PTA representative, and Ms Nelda Simons, who heads the PLP's crime review committee.