Pastor Damon Hendrickson, the newly-appointed chairman of the Cabinet's Clergy Against Crime Committee, believes Bermuda's youth needs to make the most of its opportunities rather than resort to lawbreaking.

Cabinet set up that group a month ago to take on anti-social behaviour and Pastor Hendrickson was introduced at Cabinet Office yesterday.

Prior to returning to Bermuda three years ago, Pastor Hendrickson preached in Michigan and Maryland – living in cities mired in anti-social behaviour, said Premier Ewart Brown.

"He rolled up his sleeves and helped those communities get through difficult times and I'm glad he is here now to help us do the same.

"During the funeral of Kellon Hill, Pastor Hendrickson proved to everyone in the church that he not only speaks to young people, but young people listen to what he has to say. That is critically important."

Probed on any similarities between America's youth and gang problem and Bermuda's Pastor Hendrickson said: "Our kids need to recognise what we have, we do have a lot of things going for us."

"Walking around Harlem, New York and downtown DC and comparing their environment to Bermuda, it's not comparable."

"We need to make our kids realise we have a positive environment here to grow and mature in, if they would only just take advantage of it."

Of his own role, Pastor Hendrickson said: "I look forward to it. We don't have the only solution but we are part of the puzzle."

"I look forward to being a piece in the puzzle and hope I can do my part to make Bermuda a better place."

The Clergy committee was part of measures announced by Government earlier this month which also included setting up a SWAT team, a legal committee to examine Bermuda's laws, expanding the Mirrors programme and encouraging public schools to take a stronger stand on uniform rules.