Crime emerged as a key discussion point among Devonshire South Central constituents at a meeting organised by the One Bermuda Alliance last night.Led by area MP OBA Leader Craig Cannonier, the meeting, at Peace Lutheran Church, attracted about 100, most of whom appeared to be solid supporters of the official Opposition.Mr Cannonier repeated some well worn concerns of his party the size of the public debt, public safety, the state of education and the economy before asking his audience to support the OBA to be the country’s next Government.“You’re preaching to the choir,” one woman reassured Mr Cannonier at question time.Mr Cannonier summed up his party’s approach to crime as a “carrot and a stick” approach. He noted that recidivism was a major issue and said that the OBA would ensure that inmates get an education.He added that an OBA government would ensure that different agencies work better together.Shadow education Minister Grant Gibbons said that early stage technical education would be a priority.The former Technical Institute offered programmes to students as young as 12, he told his audience.“It provided a wonderful foundation.” And while there is technical education at the senior schools today, “there is a huge gaping hole.”Dr Gibbons noted that there was a preponderance of nonBermudians in certain professions such as chefs.“Out of 900 chefs, 85 percent are non-Bermudians,” he said by way of example.“We’ve been failing our children in terms of giving them the skills and abilities.”But Mr Cannonier did not discount a tough approach to combat criminal behaviour.“If we find ourselves (in a situation) where they are choosing crime we are going to have to come down hard on them,” he said.Asked the OBA’s position on legalising marijuana, Mr Cannonier indicated that the matter has to be thoroughly examined.“I do believe as a society we are going to have to make some decision to deal with that,” he said.He said his own family had been negatively impacted by drug abuse which had started with marijuana.But he was more disturbed by alcohol abuse by young people, Mr Cannonier added.“They are drinking themselves into oblivion.”One woman noted that developing sports was a good anti-crime measure and demanded to know whether the OBA was committed to finishing the National Sports Centre.Mr Cannonier said that developing sports tourism could be win-win situation, and suggested that investors could be sold on the opportunities.But Mr Richards stressed that the OBA would not be pursuing any projects that is not affordable.“If it is within our means we will do it,” he said.“But we won’t be like the PLP government and do stuff that is not within our means.”Besides Dr Gibbons and Mr Cannonier, Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards, candidate Toni Spring and party chairman Thad Hollis were also on the panel.