Deputy Speaker Dame Jennifer Smith has criticised the "atrocious" vandalism of a St. George's graveyard, but says it is symptomatic of a wider "disconnect" between the nation's youth and their history.

The MP for St. George's North spoke on the damage to gravestones at St. Peter's Church in the House of Assembly on Friday, saying it showed "no respect for the dead".

Vandals toppled tombstones some dating back to the 1700s, in a wrecking spree last Tuesday night.

St. Peter's Church dates back to pre-1713 and is believed to be the oldest continually-used Anglican church in the Western hemisphere, outside of the UK.

The churchyard has two graveyards, one for black slaves, the other for white parishioners.

Dame Jennifer told MPs on Friday: "I want to speak on the atrocious behaviour in the graveyard at St. Peter's Church.

"I am concerned at the apparent disconnect, that some in our community have no respect for the dead."

Pointing out that the graveyard also contains the resting place of former slaves, she said: "Why should people care about something that they don't feel or know anything about?

"I don't know how many St. George's children or children elsewhere on the Island have ever been to the graveyard at St. Peter's.

"If we don't as a society take the steps to embrace, uphold and revere our history, we can't expect others to either.

"That is one of the reasons why this Government has been so involved in making sure Bermuda's history is such an inclusive history, as we want our young people to feel that connect.

"We hope as we come to our 400th year, that the events that are planned, that young people will feel that connect."

Dame Jennifer said some young people were still unaware of the historical significance of Barr's Bay Park, where the US ship The Enterprise landed in 1835 with 78 slaves on board the slaves then given the choice of freedom or to continue on their journey to bondage in the US.

Many Bermudians can trace their heritage to the 72 slaves who chose to stay on the Island.

Commenting on the need for more "inclusiveness" in history, she said: "We have to do a bit better at promoting that connect."

Speaking on the vandalism at St. Peter's Church last week, the Rev. David Raths told The Royal Gazette: "This shows incredible disrespect for all those who have gone before us.

"It's quite worrisome that people seem to have no respect either for the antiquity of these things or those who are buried there."

He said: "I just don't understand why they would do it."

Police say at least three gravestones were disturbed and two unearthed between 4 p.m. on Tuesday and 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Anyone with information should call the Eastern CID office on 295 0011.