Senior Government ministers are preparing to tackle the problems of youth violence by organising a national conference for young people.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said hundreds of youngsters could be invited to a huge forum later this year.

Mr. Edness has already criticised an Opposition plan for a youth summit because it includes proposals to talk to gang leaders.

But the Minister told The Royal Gazette last night that Government was planning its own conference.

He revealed the proposal as the Chamber of Commerce confirmed it would open its offices to stage regular meetings between Police chiefs and nightclub owners.

President David Rowntree told The Royal Gazette members had now rubberstamped a battleplan to wage war on clubland crime.

He added: "The Chamber is fully behind the action plan and hopefully our offices will host meetings very soon and we will move ahead fast.'' Mr. Edness, who backed the nightclub meetings, said Government was now planning a conference which could take place in one of Bermuda's main high schools.

He said senior ministers and headteachers would form a panel to answer questions from worried students.

"This is a programme we are going to give some priority to,'' said Mr.

Edness.

"These people involved in gang fights are breaking the law and I don't have any comfort for them.

"But it would be wise to have dialogue with young people generally and we should have a conference that focusses on youth and the problems they face.'' Mr. Edness said Government was already drawing up a blueprint for the conference and vowed to listen to youngsters' fears.

He added: "It would be a conference where young people are actually in charge and have the freedom of talking and expressing their views about the problems they are encountering.

"We will listen to any solutions that they put forward. Young people may tell us they want more responsibility over the things that affect their lives. It should be their conference.

"It's something which has been in the pipeline for some time but we have been overtaken by events.'' Mr. Edness said the forum would be organised by the Department of Education or the Department of Health and Social Services.

He added: "The churches are also looking for solutions to youth violence and many churches are involved with young people.

"Now we're trying to arrange something organised.'' The Minister revealed the conference plan a day after criticising the Opposition proposals launched by Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb.

Ms Webb said last night: "We had the Blow the Whistle on Violence conference recently but we haven't seen much progress after that.

"If Government now wants to have a youth conference, the more the merrier.

"Clearly, Government has done very little to address youth violence in Bermuda. They are bereft of ideas for programmes to motivate our young people.

"If you are serious about addressing violence, you have to take every step possible and talking to gang leaders is a very real option which should not be disregarded.'' CONFERENCE CON CRIME CRM