Fifteen members of the clergy met with Government this week to discuss possible anti-gang initiatives.The Cabinet Office meeting was the first in a series of community engagement meetings promised by Minister of Public Safety Michael Dunkley.Premier Craig Cannonier and Junior Public Safety Minister Jeff Baron were also present for the talks with the Hamilton-area clergy.Mr Cannonier said: “As I have said before, all Ministers have been challenged to determine how to integrate anti-gang initiatives into their ministries. This meeting was a crucial first step in engaging the community in our efforts. Members of the clergy shared their passion and their determination to work with the Government to the benefit of Bermuda.”Bishop Vernon Lambe said the “national problem” could only be solved by taking “national steps” including close collaboration of all stakeholders and an open admission of the origins of the problems. The challenge, Bishop Lambe said “is to convince our young people that we are serious”.The recommendation of Bishop Lloyd Duncan for a National Day of Prayer was supported by the others present at the meeting, according to a Government press release.Pastor Kenneth Manders, of the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church, spoke of the need to “bring healing to the victims’ families” and added, “if we know who we are dealing with, we must determine what we can do to get close to them and heal their hurt”.The members of the clergy also expressed their desire to see the Government address issues such as:l Tinted helmet visorsl Consistency in sentencing for offencesl Ensuring that the police have the resources to tackle crime andl Ensuring that imprisonment acts as a deterrent.Mr Dunkley said: “The Government is committed to working with every sector of the community to make their outreach more effective. Strong enforcement is one part of the equation, and the importance of it is seen in our constant support of deliberate police action in the fight against guns, gangs, drugs and violence.“However, in this first of a series of community engagement meetings, we determined to deal with the spiritual foundation of truth and love that must be re-energised in our families and in the community. We must impact people where they are, and spiritual leaders are ideally placed to lead the transformation of lives that must occur if we are to make Bermuda safe again.”Further meetings are also planned with clergy from other areas of the Island.