Youths involved in gang violence should be subject to curfews and their parents should be punished for any wrongdoing they commit.

That is the view of Family Learning Centre executive director Martha Dismont, who has been appalled by the recent escalation in turf warfare on the Island.

?We are going to have more and more and more of these outbursts of violence unless we really get to the root of what is causing it,? Ms Dismont told

?Where are the parents? It is all about parenting. A lot of the young people involved are still living with their parents and need to be restricted by responsible parents.

?One solution might be to introduce curfews with parents held responsible, and liable to fines, if their children break the curfews.

?Parents are very selfish and need to take more responsibility for the problems in society.

?There is a direct relationship between the increase in gang violence and the decrease in the importance and strength of the family unit for large numbers of the community.

?A lot of these problems derive from poor family backgrounds. Young people join gangs because these places give them a sense of belonging, self-esteem, even safety ? things they are normally lacking at home.

?But gangs are negative.

?You do not see gangs helping old people across the road or doing community service, they are interested in territory and violence.?

But Ms Dismont is not simply blaming parents for society?s ills, she believes parents themselves need help and that social services are not doing enough to support them.

She is also keen to see the introduction of parenting classes for teen mothers.

Ms Dismont warned that gang violence was becoming such a problem in Bermuda, and was increasing so quickly, that we may one day see Jamaican-style drug gangs on the Island.

?We have a major problem in this community because there are so many pieces that need fixing at once,? she added.

?We need to see a coordinated approach by Government to fight these serious problems using a variety of different Departments all working together.?