Violence in the community was sown by the ruling Progressive Labour Party's policies, an Opposition Senator claimed yesterday.

"You reap what you sow," Sen. Leonard Santucci said during the motion to adjourn. "What we see happening in this country is the reaping of what this Government has sown."

Referring to violence on Bermuda Day, he told his colleagues that it was a PLP Government which "removed capital and corporal punishment from the books", and that people now felt free to act out because they had no real fear of reprisal.

Westgate prison is seen as a "resort" he added, and religious education was no longer a part of the school curriculum.

"People are afraid to testify in a court of law because they are afraid of reprisals in the community," he added. "I think that is ridiculous but they are reaping what this Government has sown."

Turning to Government Sen. Reginald Burrows' announcement that Government had changed its position on the Anchorage Road houses, he then lambasted what he called the "about face" Government.

"They change Ministers, they change direction. They change policy and they change procedure," he said.

"There was a time when Anchorage Road was to be sold ... New Minister, new direction. That's what we call an about face ... You keep doing about-faces... What happened to collective responsibility? You cannot trust from week to week because you don't know where you are going."

Sen. Walwyn Hughes (Ind) pointed out that corporal punishment had not been removed from the books but that principals had decided not to use it.

And Attorney General Sen. Larry Mussenden accused Sen. Santucci of preaching "gloom and doom" about the youth.

He said thousands had enjoyed and participated constructively in the Bermuda Day festivities and the disturbances were from a "very small group".

For the most part, he said, "our young people are thriving" with many doing well in competitive sports and "hundreds" in schools overseas.

"Look at our trades - there are wonderful young Bermudians in the trades ... and more Bermudians in the international business sector than there are non Bermudians."

He added: "He can talk all the gloom and doom he wants, but he sees a small thing and he wants to blow it up."

He denied Sen. Santucci's characterisation of Westgate as a holiday camp, but added that some prison alternative schemes were tougher than being locked up.

And he warned troublemakers that "Police will investigate and bring to court anyone who disturbs the peace in the community".

He also urged parents to spend more time with their children and get to know who they socialise with.

"Some parents have got to spend a little more time talking to their kids. Most parents are taking care of their young people and guiding them to success."