Two politicians from Hamilton Parish shook hands on a Friday afternoon rather than squaring off in a debate ? they have decided to join together in order to stop gangs from defiling their area.

PLP backbencher Derrick Burgess of Hamilton East and UBP Deputy Leader Wayne Furbert of Hamilton West met at the boundary of their constituencies to put a stop to gang graffiti.

?If you have got to paint, paint your house, not the walls,? Mr. Burgess said at My Lord?s Bay Road.

Mr. Burgess said Hamilton Parish is the best parish on the Island but it is in danger of being tarnished by gangs.

?At that bus shelter up there, the glass is all smashed,? Mr. Burgess explained.

?I want people to be a bit more responsible. Respect your home. It devalues the price of property and one day people will inherit these properties.?

He also encouraged Hamilton Parish residents not to litter.

?If you have a bottle, put it in the trash can,? he said.

Mr. Furbert pointed to My Lord?s Bay Road and explained it was ?the boundary line between our constituencies?.

He said that although he and Mr. Burgess had differing political philosophies they both share a distaste for the gang graffiti.

?Public works already came in and painted over it,? Mr. Furbert said.

?Someone went and graffitied M-Unit over the walls and the sign,? he said. ?This could mean Middletown, or an identification of a faction, or a certain group.?

?We will not allow this event to happen in our Hamilton Parish,? he said. ?We are here together as friends. We have to stand firm.?

He thanked the Ministry of Works & Engineering for painting over the graffiti on the walls yesterday morning.

?We would like to ask our neighbours to try and keep the area nice and clean,? he said.