The parents of the shooter responsible for the South Shore ride-by have been urged to get in touch with detectives.

Government yesterday made the plea during a heated Senate debate on last week's shooting outside The Swizzle pub in Warwick.

It is thought the attack was part of a turf war between rival gangs. And this has led to fears that that the Police investigation will be hampered by a wall of silence.

"The person who did this is a child of a parent," said Sen. Tannock. "It takes a brave parent, a brave family member to say, I know what my child is and I know what they are involved with ? here's information that can help the community, here's information that can help the Police."

Sen. Tannock said he wanted to encourage the community to think along those lines in a bid to help detectives track down those responsible.

"The Police can't do it alone," he added. "They never have been able to do it alone."

He said Police needed help ? and in a small Island like Bermuda this assistance from the community was "even more paramount".

Earlier, Opposition said the "epidemic" of gang-related violent crime was being felt by the entire community.

She said Police were doing their best with resources available. But she warned about the impact the shooting would have on tourism in the South Shore area and asked what was being done to combat the problem.

"A drive-by shooting in any residential area or parish in this country is a reason to have major major concerns," she said.

However, accused Sen. Spence Farmer of talking "doom and gloom".

As a Warwick resident, he said he did not feel "insecure" or "helpless". He admitted there were problems with crime but said Warwick was no different to any other parish in Bermuda.

"As a resident of Warwick, I feel safe" said the PLP Senator. "The Police are doing their job. They come very promptly when the need arises."

This prompted UBP to speak out. He said his house was in "earshot" of last week's gunfire ? and said he did not want anyone to minimise the impact the crime had on the tight-knit neighbourhood.

"I can tell you it's one thing reading about crime that happens in other countries, in other neighbourhoods of Bermuda. It's entirely another thing when it happens 200 yards from home."

He added: "It's the first time this sort of thing has happened in that neighbourhood and it's very, very traumatic for the residents of South Shore, Warwick."