feeling hopeless and helpless.

This dire prognosis came from Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb during the Motion to Adjourn in the Lower House yesterday.

Ms Webb said that the abuse of drugs and alcohol were often the reason for violent behaviour in society and in the Island's schools.

However, what is required is leadership from Government but this is not happening because the United Bermuda Party just reacts to problems, she charged.

But Government backbencher Maxwell Burgess said that violence would still exist in Bermuda even if Bermudians were tomorrow placed at the helm of the Police Service or the new senior school.

Mr. Burgess said the current decision to have security guards posted in the Island's senior schools was not the answer to the violence that has occurred there.

And he suggested a programme called "Take back the classroom'' because Bermuda's children were everyone's responsibility.

Turning to the recent labour dispute between the Bermuda Industrial Union and businessman, Steven Thomson, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said the PLP were hopeful that a settlement had been reached.

And Mr. Scott assailed statements from Mr. Thomson and his lawyer Alan Dunch that the strike that took place last week was illegal.

He said that no illegal acts had taken place and this could not be the real reason that he closed his businesses down on Thursday.

Mr. Scott said the BIU position has not changed but Mr. Thomson's actions has set labour relations back several years.

Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith called on Government to respond to charges in a Mid Ocean News editorial that the "Education Ministry is a Bermudian byword for ineptitude.'' But Education Minister Jerome Dill said his Ministry will answer each of the accusations in the editorial through the media and he called on the community to put their "shoulders to the wheel for our children''.

RENEE WEBB -- Drugs causing violence in Bermuda