Prevention is better than cure: that was the message from the mother of murdered teen Shaundae Jones as the two political parties continue the pre-election debate on crime.

Marsha Jones said she hoped that whoever wins will continue the Mirrors programme, launched earlier this year by the Progressive Labour Party Government.

Motivated by the experience of losing her 20-year-old son Shaundae, who was gunned down in Dockyard in 2003, Ms Jones worked as a coach on the programme.

It saw a group of 15- to 18-year-olds participate in a six-day residential course to confront the issues holding them back.

The PLP has committed to another two years of the programme after the success of the pilot earlier this year — with the UBP also praising and backing it.

Mrs. Jones said: "I really think that improving the youth lifestyle is very important. I did participate in the Mirrors programme and I thought it was an excellent programme.

"The problem does start at young ages. The programme was for people aged 15 to 18, but I think we even have to go younger than that.

"I'm getting from some friends who are teachers that some of the younger ones are getting around older people and learning the negativity of violence at such young ages.

"We need to educate the youth — prevention is better than cure."

Ms Jones has become an advocate for other victims of crime as well as a campaigner for justice in the case of Shaundae — no one has ever been convicted for his killing.

The Police have said in the past that the reluctance of people in the community to give evidence has been a major problem, and Mrs. Jones backs the implementation of a witness protection programme in Bermuda. Again, this has been pledged by both parties.

She has also called for more expert Police officers to deal with serious crimes such as murder.

"As far as harsher sentences, first we have to catch the culprits. I'm so drained with the situation.

"More experience in dealing with harsher crimes would help the situation — training on more violent crimes that we are having.

"There are so many outstanding murders. I think that for Bermuda to feel safer and feel more at ease if in some of these crimes we were successful in getting the culprits to court.

"I think Bermuda has got some serious problems when it comes to crime. It seems to be escalating because the perpetrators seem to feel you can get away with certain things."

Meanwhile lawyer Charles Richardson spoke of the importance of rehabilitating young people convicted of crimes while they are in prison.

Mr. Richardson turned his own life around after almost seven years in jail for firearms offences — studying while in jail and subsequently being called to the Bar.

"The most important thing is for this society to make sure that young men — particularly those who are incarcerated — truly understand that if they embrace self-reformation they will be embraced by society.

"The biggest problem is getting people motivated to apply themselves. There's still not a belief that on the other side they will be embraced and accepted," he said.