Educators warn that the community must take time out for young people in order to prevent incidents such as the recent violence on Front Street on New Year's Eve from recurring.

"The riots are a sign of the times," said educator Shawnette Somner. "Within two to three years we are going to see situations that are ten times worse.

"It's scary and it's sad and it's time for people to stop talking about what's to be done and get down to the solutions."

Part of the solution, said Ms Somner, along with representatives from the Community Education and Development Programme, is to better inform the Island's youth about life, arming them to make better decisions in the future.

"If you make a good decision, good things happen," agreed parent Debbie Cooper. "If you make a lousy decision, lousy things happen. It is that simple."

Ms Cooper placed her 13-year old daughter in a free motivational workshop run by Sonia Waldron and Lynn Burrows, coordinators for the St. George's and Hamilton Community Education Programmes respectively.

In that course Ms Cooper's daughter Gabrielle, along with 30 other children, learned how to deal with personal anger, handle confrontations, manage money, and be a leader. They were also instructed in social etiquette, sex and drug education, and self-respect.

In most cases, said Ms Waldron, the youths, aged between 11 and 14, only attended at their parents' insistence.

"It was very interesting because although they were first reluctant, they soon loved it," Ms Waldron said.

"Personally I think these things should be forced on kids in school," said Ms Cooper. "I think education needs to be re-thought completely.

"But sending your child to those classes shows the child you care. And the more life skills we can offer our children, the better equipped they will be to make good decisions."

Parental involvement seems to be the key.

"It empowers," said Ms Cooper. "That word has been over-used, but it empowers kids.

"We have to learn to look after our own family and 90 percent of the problems will solve themselves. If all of us are saying this, it can't be that wrong."

Representatives from Community Education agree.

"At this time, we offer a free Parenting programme," said Ms Waldron, Ms Burrows, and coordinator for Warwick and Sandy's Mr. Eugene Vickers, in a joint statement.

"Many people benefit, but the registration rate for this course (and similar courses) is poor. We generally only get individuals who are already receiving help and are referred for continued growth."

"Parents need to be educated," said Ms Somner, who also runs a class which teaches young women how to behave in certain situations. "They need to realise that many of them need help, and go and seek it, even in our judgmental community.

"The things we teach in these courses are things parents should be teaching anyway. We are doing something about it."

Ms Cooper was impressed that the Community Education coordinators also understood the need to take action. "They recognised that there is a real need to arm children with life skills, and they are doing something about it," she said.

"These kids are stewards of Bermuda," she said. "If we don't try to help as many youth as possible now those youth are not going to be there for us when we get old."

The free courses run by the Community Education and Development Programme received a good response and will be run during 2003, said the statement from the coordinators.

Anyone who is interested in more information or has a suggestion as to how they can assist are encouraged to call one of the offices at 236-0829, 292-7735, or 297-0007.