Bermuda Industrial Union boss Chris Furbert believes developing sports clubs can ease some of the much-publicised problems facing the Island's young people.

But as the long-serving president of Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC), he knows only too well how bringing ambitious community projects to fruition can be a long and frustrating process.

Mr. Furbert says plans for a $10 million development of Warwick-based PHC's field — including an indoor football pitch, basketball court, concert arena, health club, changing rooms and bar — are still going ahead.

However, he accepts many in the community are annoyed at the slow progress of work on the venue, which hasn't even been able to host football games since 1998.

"We have had some challenges. Of course I feel very disappointed right now as president of the club that under my leadership we have had to close the field," said Mr. Furbert.

"We want to build a new clubhouse there. We have had challenges with finances to get that done. But there's some light at the end of the tunnel — Government is doing what they can to assist, we have an agreement with the Ministry of Education regarding a usage fee for five schools in the area.

"Once it's done it will enhance the community. It will let our young people come off the streets for after-school programmes, to play sport.

"The problem is making sure the club can afford to pay the money when we make the loan."

He says even without the clubhouse, PHC gives opportunities for young people, allowing them to learn life skills and build character, with children not allowed to play if they get bad school reports.

As union boss, Mr. Furbert sees for himself how gang problems infiltrate into young people's working lives.

He says he is sometimes contacted by employers saying their workers' lives are in danger because they are not allowed in certain parts of the Country deemed enemy territory.

"Just today, one of my members came and said, 'Brother Chris, I have a threat on my life'," he said.

"That to me is very concerning. People not allowed to travel to this part or that. We've only got 22 square miles anyway and people should be allowed to travel wherever they want."

Mr. Furbert, who previously lived in Spice Hill and now resides in the Warwick Park area, first ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Labour Party in Paget West in 1993, and lost out in another United Bermuda Party stronghold, Warwick West, ten years later.

Explaining his political ambitions, he pointed to his decades of experience as a union organiser and said: "I look at this as another challenge similar to my current position in the BIU."

BIU president since 2006, he represents 4,000 members including Hamilton Corporation workers who have joined his watch.

He points to his roles in ending the long-running dispute with Government over the firing of ProActive and the release of a large debt owed by the union.

And he has no plans to give up his BIU position if he gets into the House of Assembly — saying he would focus on representing Warwick South Central as a backbencher and not push for a place in Cabinet.