Students were captivated by the powerful words of three former Los Angeles gangsters yesterday as an ex-Blood and ex-Crip united to deliver a message of anti-violence.

Wearing red and blue du rags, Jeff Osborne and Craig Winters-Dixon partnered up to address a special assembly at T N Tatem Middle School.

They were joined by Pepe Montenegro, a former member of Mexican gang The Avenues, to warn youngsters not to glamourise 'gangster' rappers and a lifestyle of guns and violence.

The three men were invited to speak in Bermuda this week by non-profit group CARTEL Challenging and Reclaiming the True Essence of Life.

CARTEL was founded two years ago to raise awareness of the growing gang problem on the Island and to educate youngsters away from anti-social behaviour.

It was launched by Pastors Leroy Bean, Lynn Landy and Kirk Trott, and hopes to gain Government funding in the future.

There are generally six known gangs on the Island 42nd Street, Southside, Eastside, Westside, Rockaway and Whitewall.

Mr. Trott said: "You can see from what's happening in Bermuda, from the murders we've had, that gang violence is getting worse. It's so big here but people are turning a blind eye.

"What we are hoping to do is get into these areas where there is a gang mentality, and get into homes and schools. If we don't do anything about it then there will be more innocent people getting hurt."

This week, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Winters-Dixon and Mr. Montenegro are visiting schools, prisons and community forums across the Island to give personal testimonies on the realities of gangster life as opposed to the 'glamour' of rap music videos.

Their visit to Bermuda also marks the first time Mr. Osborne, an ex-Blood, and Mr. Winters-Dixon, an ex-Crip, have teamed up to address a school.

The results had students transfixed yesterday as the pair shared personal stories and performed two hip-hop and beatbox songs which were worthy of their own MTV video.

Students at T N Tatem hollered their approval as the two ex-LA gangsters 'jerked' and sang out their message of anti-violence.

Afterwards, 13-year-old Joshua Commissiong, of Sandys, said: "Everyone knows or is related to someone who is a gang member and so this assembly was very fruitful. The stories they gave, it does bring home the realities of gangster life."

Kristamaria Looby, 13, of Warwick, said: "It was great. The information they gave, I think it could change someone's life because it makes you think."

Former Blood Mr. Osborne, 22, said: "It's important to reach kids at this age because they are the future governors and leaders of our society. I think the CARTEL group is phenomenal. Pastor Bean and Pastor Landy have both been there and are wanting to go back and reclaim the youth. "We will definitely come back to Bermuda, CARTEL is family now and this is our second home."

This morning the ex-LA gang members will speak at CedarBridge Academy.

At 7 p.m. the public are then invited to a community forum at Francis Patton Primary School, Hamilton Parish.

For more information on CARTEL contact 734 7972.