A sense of realism, hope, and an un-Bermudian approach will be needed to solve the Island’s ever-increasing gang problem, according to delegates attending a conference on the issue.

And Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley acknowledged that the time had come to ditch the narrow-minded views of the past when it came to fighting the criminal elements that plague Bermuda’s communities.

Speaking at the Save our Sons conference at Sandys 360, yesterday, the Deputy Premier said that while enforcement was “our business”, it had become impossible to ignore the root causes of gang violence.

Meanwhile Dr Melvyn Bassett, the managing director of Sandys 360, pledged that the conference would not just be a talking shop, and that while it might start an “important conversation”, it would progress from there.

With representatives from law enforcement, social services, and various churches on hand, Mr Dunkley opened the conference by saying that there was little room for “traditional politics” or “political correctness” when it came to trying to finding a solution.

“Law enforcement all over the world has quickly learned that such narrow views are not possible when dealing with issues that have more social and economic causes, recognising that enforcement deals only with the symptoms of much wider problems,” said Mr Dunkley.

“That is why this Government has more fully implemented a Bermuda-style Operation Ceasefire approach since the last election, strengthened the community arm of the Inter-Agency Gang Task Force and fully implemented the gang mediation programme started by the previous administration.”

Addressing the conference Dr Bassett called gang violence “the most important issue” facing Bermuda today.

“We believe we must help the Government, the various agencies in this community that are attempting to grapple with this serious, major scourge on our country — which, if it is not addressed, it will escalate and has the potential to destroy our international business industry, more young people, tourism, and each of us,” he said.

“Bermuda’s gangs, their activity today is largely confined to pockets in our community — 42, Parkside, MOB. We have to be careful that there isn’t an extension of this problem.

“We’re going to begin today with an important conversation. We’re not going to do what we typically do in Bermuda — we’re not going to just talk.

“Today is designed to continue the conversation, but at the end of the day, with your involvement, we will gather recommendations that we will compile. And, just after Christmas, we will present to the public, to the Cabinet, to various organisations, recommendations, and potential strategies that we can employ in this community to try to ensure that we stem the flow.

“We may not be able eliminate gangs but Sandys 360 believes that it can do much with your help to at least try to control the situation before it gets worse.”

Delivering the blessing at the conference was Nicholas Dill, the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, who urged the gathering to remember that they weren’t just talking about criminals, they were talking about friends, neighbours, sons, brothers, and, ultimately, the people who would be the role models for the next generation.

“There is nothing that any of them have done that is too bad to be forgiven, to be healed,” he said. “And we need to remember that we are all part of the problem and all part of the solution.”

He prayed for a “healthy sense of realism” in doing the hard work “to do anything that will bring about a culture shift in the hearts of these young men and the society that produces them”.

“It requires not just realism but hope,” said Rev Dill. “We long to see our young men on this Island grow and turn from the ways of violence to the ways of peace, from destructive lifestyles to constructive paths, to be healed of their anger and their hopelessness.

“Where we have ignored the cries of children and young people who need help and guidance we pray for an upsurge of those willing to give time and mentorship.

“We imagine fathers caring for their children, we imagine partners caring for their spouses, we imagine citizens caring for their country.

“And we ask you for this because we know we have failed and we need your help.”