Police have urged adult gang leaders and community activists to bring rival teens together to find out why they are fighting.

Older community leaders said at a public meeting on Wednesday they had no idea why schoolkids were always fighting, and they were fed up getting dragged into the problem.

Few gang members turned up at the Police Recreation Club at Prospect to discuss the problem of violence but about 20 people did take part in the debate.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley, PLP backbencher Dale Butler and PLP activist Rodney Smith, were among those who attended.

Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay said Bermudians had to "take up the torch'' from Police to find out what social issues are at the root of the problem.

Mr. Lemay said real progress was being made when gang and community leaders met previously and vowed to work for peace.

But the discussions were derailed when social commentator Ras Mykkal branded those taking part as drug dealers and "wall-sitters''.

As a result, they boycotted a subsequent meeting because they did not want the media present, but others turned up to discuss wider social issues.

Mr. Lemay said: "You can have this forum, but I am out of my league on this.

When you start talking about social issues, there are some people in this room more qualified than I am.

"We need a `made in Bermuda' solution and someone else has got to take up the torch. We had a role before, but where we are going, I don't think we have a role.'' One community activist, who did not give his name, said: "We need to get these kids in and find out why they are fighting, 'cos I ain't got a clue but we're getting dragged into this.'' Mr. Lemay added: "These groups have the potential to agree and influence young people. They now have the capability to bring these young kids to the room for the next meeting. They can influence them in the room and ask why they are doing it.

"We could try to get between these 15-year-olds the same understanding that we had for the adults. We had a golden opportunity to get young people into the room and start talking about violence.

"If we could influence 5 percent it would grow to where you want it to be.

That would be so important.'' Community activist Dwayne Santucci said the gang leaders needed more time to sort out their problems, but it was time to "put up or shut up. We are dealing with crime and violence and we can't take a soft road''.

A female who attended said the problem was that children had no discipline in the family and nothing to do to keep them off the streets. Mr. Santucci added: "We have created this monster. We have planted a seed yesterday and it has grown too big and it needs to be chopped down.

"But how do you chop it down if the roots are so deep? Bermudians are arrogant people who are only for themselves. That's what we've become.'' Mr. Dunkley said he had come to listen and help in any way he could.

"No man is an island. There are 60,000 Bermudians and we have got to stick together. Whether you are black or white, I am your brother,'' he said.

Umar Al-Khattab said black Bermudians faced a cultural problem because they had "no sense of self''.

He claimed children were sent to school to "learn white supremacy'' and alleged black educators and church leaders had let down their communities.

Mike Manhardt, the director of the Island's Catholic Youth Ministry, said the answer to all the problems besetting youths was love. "I'm sorry, I forgive you, let's move on,'' he said. "That's what you're doing here. I believe in the African proverb that a child must be raised by the entire tribe, but in Bermuda people are out to hide their problems.

"It is pushing the problem under the carpet, and the problem is a lack of family morals.'' CRIME CRM