Bermuda has lost a generation of young people because social problems have been ignored for many years, former Middletown resident Tillman Darrell claimed yesterday.

The United Bermuda Party candidate said gang violence has plagued the back of town since he grew up there himself — but people have only begun to pay attention after a string of shootings hit the headlines in recent times.

Mr. Darrell also laid blame on politicians for setting a bad example by fighting among themselves and getting involved in allegations of corruption.

He was speaking at a UBP press conference in which the Opposition called for community activists to organise peace talks between rival gangs.

"We have lost a generation of young people in this country and it's amazing because they have finally got your attention," he said.

"We messed up that generation in terms of education and academics. There's nothing for these young people to do, to aspire to. What we have today is young people who don't care.

"You ask the question why? Politicians today are not leading by example. (Young people) see words like 'corruption', 'kickbacks' and feel that if we don't care they don't care.

"Our young people have given up because we gave up on them."

Reflecting on the reaction to recent violence which has included nine shootings since May, he added: "It's not new guys. They have finally got their attention."

Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said dialogue between the people at the centre of Bermuda's gang problems is the best way to get an understanding of what makes them behave the way they do.

Sen. Dunkley said: "Police are often stymied because they don't know the specific motivations behind the shootings.

"It is our view that Bermuda can take a big step toward easing the crisis by trying to grow some understandings about why things are the way they are.

"We need to put people in situations where they can get to know each other better, where people can speak freely, without fear, about why they do what they do, and why they feel what they feel.

"Our first recommendation therefore is for a series of peace talks across the community, where people feel free to express their concerns, their fears, their frustrations and hopes. Obviously this means bringing gang members to the table, but also neighbourhood spokesmen and even Police.

"Such an exercise will only work if we get the right people in place to make it happen. While we would expect the government to support the peace talks through funding and goodwill, we would like to see this work managed by community activists with no political affiliation other than their commitment to building a better Bermuda.

"The aim is simply to foster understandings where today little exist. The goal is to use those understandings to fashion solutions for a better, more law-abiding society."

At the press conference, the UBP called for Police budgeting increases to:

• modernise the out-of-date Police computer system to help officers better store and act on information;

• end overtime bans, increase the number of senior investigating officers and have a strong day and night Police presence on the streets;

• hire a narcotics expert to provide courts with immediate evidence about seized drugs and speed up the justice system;

• mobile cameras for forensic work.