Bermuda is facing an "unprecedented" level of crime and needs to wake up before the situation gets worse, according to Senator Marc Bean.

Speaking during the Throne Speech debate yesterday afternoon, Sen. Bean spoke about the rising levels of violence.

"I would rather in the circumstances have a person who's youths out there causing havoc dealing with Augustus [Funeral Home] rather than that family of an innocent bystander dealing with Augustus.

"Is it going to take a shot in Tuckers Town, Riddles Bay or Fairylands? We were certainly marching this summer over something less frivolous. Is it it's not my backyard so I'm not worrying about it? Wake up Bermuda. Who's that next family that's going to be suffering? If you think it can't reach Fairylands or Riddles Bay, you better wake up and smell the coffee.

He also spoke about gaming and admitted he isn't gambler but said it was OK that some people were.

"In terms of gaming, We need to deal with it. Let's deal with it. I will let you know that I am not one to gamble. I might drop a $10 bill at Crown and Anchor but once I lose it, I am gone. I don't want to get stung but to each his own.

"If persons want to gamble then we should be able to give them the opportunity to do that. Let's deal with it."

Sen. Bean continued: "We might have to consider gaming as a source for our revenue. Gaming like other topics that have been raised with the debate, we should possibly look at a referendum and let the people decide. Let gaming be dealt with as soon as possible and we need to look at it not only from out self interest but also our national interests."

Sen. Bean also spoke about the education system and said it needs to be "revolutionised" before its too late.

Speaking after Sen. Bean, Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley said the problem with the education system is too much bureaucracy.

"Until we realise that bureaucracy is not going to work for the best, we're going to continue having these problems. There's many problems with bureaucracy. We have a hard time all coming together, working issues and deciding what are steps one, two and three. I do think we have serious challenges in education and we can't afford to lose any more children."

Sen. Dunkley also spoke about families getting back to together to start to solve some of the problems at home.

"It's one thing to have a child but it's another thing to raise a child. There are too many people that are proud of their child but don't know how to deal with the problems.

"All of us in Bermuda need to have a wake up. I believe we're at a tipping point. Whether it's a tipping point with the recession, we're at a tipping point."