It is time for Bermudians to make a stand and take back the community from gang and gun violence, say MPs.

The third shooting incident in three weeks has prompted a rallying cry from all three political parties, while Premier Dr. Ewart Brown and Governor Sir Richard Gozney also urged citizens to assist the Police.

Two men have been arrested following the shooting of Shaki Minors, 26, and Renee Kuchler, 24, outside the Southside Cinema in St. David's on Friday night.

The couple are both in the intensive care unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where their condition was last night described as "stable".

Bermuda Police Service detectives have seized a firearm in relation to the incident but stress their inquiries are continuing and have called on witnesses and those with information to come forward.

The appeal to the community was echoed by the Premier, the Governor, Home Affairs Minister David Burch and cross-party MPs last night.

Dr. Brown said: "We must create conditions where the entire community sees it as every community member's responsibility to come forward and report what they know about offences involving guns."

The Governor said: "I echo the Police Service's call and the recent calls of one or two MPs, for members of the wider community who know what is happening between the gangs to come forward and help to dismantle this scourge of gang-on-gang violence. The role of the natural leaders of the community is crucial."

Senator Burch also condemned the violence. "My thoughts, like others in the community, are with the victims, particularly the young woman who was injured," he said last night.

"It appears to be yet another gang-related incident. It is clear that there is a small pocket of criminals who are intent on destroying our community.

"And their gang war is indiscriminate when it spills into other areas of our communities and neighbourhoods. For an island of this size, such incidents are happening far too frequently."

St. David's MP Lovitta Foggo said: "This heinous, malicious, and in my opinion, cowardly act could well have resulted in greater numbers being injured and even killed, given the location.

"Such an act of violence necessitates and demands the collective efforts of the community and the Police to work tirelessly to quell this type of criminal activity.

"The community of St. David's should be intolerant of such acts and I hope the residents, if anyone is able to, will respond with much haste to provide any pertinent information regarding this awful circumstance."

The Government Chief Whip added: "We as citizens must each be willing to fervently combat these violent trends by stepping to the plate when necessary."

United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan said: "The shootings this weekend outside the Southside theatre are a troubling indicator of a future no one wants.

"The indiscriminate quality of the crime shooting two people outside a theatre frequented by everyday people, including children must cause the gravest concern about where we are headed as a society."

He urged the public to give Police as much information as possible.

Mr. Swan said: "It is time to fight for your communities. If you don't, you are contributing to the problem."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mark Pettingill said Government needed to act to stop the "criminal madness plaguing our community" — and should quit criticising the Governor on policing.

"The problem is far more complex than just a policing issue," he said, adding that a plan of immediate action, possibly steered by a crime commission, was urgently needed.

Ashfield DeVent, PLP MP for Pembroke South East, said women had more power than they realised to stop the violence.

"The Government alone can't stop this, the community must get involved, and I think the women in the community need to stand up and make something happen," he said.

"If you know something, do something about it, confront your loved ones who might be involved, because it might not be safe to have them near you."

• Anyone with information on the shootings should call the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers hot line on 800 8477. Anonymous tips can be left on the Crimestoppers Bermuda website at www.crimestoppers.bm.