Parents need to speak out if their children are under threat from gang retaliation, United Bermuda Party Senator Suzann Roberts-Holshouser said yesterday.

The Senator said her friend's son got a job after coming out of prison — only to lose it again because he was threatened by a gangster who said he was working on enemy territory.

Sen. Roberts-Holshouser told the Upper Chamber the man had served a jail sentence for a drugs offence and now wants to lead a normal life.

But after his new job took him to a certain part of the Island, he was twice approached by somebody who said, 'Consider this a warning.' He then decided not to go back for his own safety.

She said the man's predicament meant people could stereotype him as a young black man who is too lazy to go to work.

"I'm sorry, but I don't like that some people are being told they can't go to some part of the Island where they have a right to go to like everybody does," Sen. Roberts-Holshouser said.

"I know it's a hard step to take because there's fear involved. But I, as a Bermudian, as a mother, find it unacceptable that we have got individuals who think they have got power over us.

"Every mother, every father, I implore them, please go for help. Please speak out and please make sure that you are not going to be threatened any more.

"Until we start helping ourselves and parents start getting involved, we are not going to get anywhere."