A group of MPs led by Progressive Labour Party backbencher Wayne Perinchief yesterday met Governor Sir Richard Gozney for talks aimed at finding a solution to the gang violence plaguing the Island.

Independent MP Wayne Furbert, Shawn Crockwell of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance and Pembroke East Central Government MP Michael Weeks joined former Police chief Mr. Perinchief for the trip to Government House.

The MPs — who will now report back to their respective parties — say they wanted to open communications with the Governor over the trouble which led most recently to a double shooting at Southside Cinema on Friday night.

Previously, Sir Richard said Government has declined his offer for a regular forum on crime with himself and the Police.

At yesterday's meeting, the MPs individually raised concerns and suggestions, including the possibility of setting up an anti-gang task force and legislation.

Mr. Crockwell told The Royal Gazette last night: "I was invited by Wayne Perinchief to be part of a bipartisan entity of Members of the House who were concerned about the gang-related crime in Bermuda.

"It was simply to sit down with him and articulate our understanding of the trouble that has been ongoing. We did just that. We expressed various concerns and recommendations and asked questions. It was good; it was informative.

"The Governor went into what's going on, what initiatives he has proposed and his view of how we need to go forward. He was quite optimistic that things are going to get better."

Specific details of the discussion are being kept confidential, but Mr. Crockwell said he personally raised a number of points.

"I questioned whether or not he thought a specific task force would be useful and whether he thought the passage of anti-gang legislation would help this further," he said.

"I also raised my concern about the perception that there is a recognisable and identifiable group of people responsible for what's been happening, and our inability to deal with them.

"He took them under consideration. He received all our comments in good spirits."

Mr. Crockwell also spoke about the failure of witnesses to cooperate with Police, saying: "The underlying thing is that the entire community needs to be involved in this. There seems to be a code of silence which lessens the effectiveness of the Police. I would join the chorus who are calling out for the community to come forward.

"It's getting to a point where it's instilling fear in people, when I can't go to a public place such as a movie theatre. It's starting to hit home."

It is understood Mr. Perinchief wants to push for a cross-party committee to be formed to address the issue.

Sir Richard said last night: "I hope that talking to MPs, as to others, will help to convince people that the Police are listening and keen to deliver all that they can.

"The Police can curb but cannot cure gang crime. The Police can catch criminals identified with gangs, and they acted swiftly to arrest suspects after each of the three recent shootings.

"On a good day they can curb future crime, as through their recent raid on a house which yielded weapons. They are listening carefully to those who want more patrols, for example, including at night.

"They are reaching out to communities for support so that red hot suspects arrested today do not have to be released tomorrow for lack of usable evidence, and themselves become victims of the next shooting the day after tomorrow.

"My seeing MPs is a small part of the debate about getting to the point which we all want to reach."

Both shooting victims, Shaki Minors and Renee Kuchler, remained in a stable condition in hospital last night. Ms Kuchler has recovered sufficiently to be moved from intensive care to a general ward; Mr. Minors was already on a general ward.