Whites in Bermuda need to stop being naive and do something to work with the black community while addressing the issue of violence.

That was an impassioned plea of a white audience member at a public meeting on Saturday night where concerned members of the public gathered to discuss the problems confronting young Bermudian men who are behaving violently.

The meeting was one of several held to respond to the issue of violence among young men when machete and knife wielding males took over the pitch at Wellington Oval two weeks ago.

Over 100 people gathered at Victor Scott Primary School to generate solutions to build a blueprint to help young men who are behaving violently become productive members of the community. Addressing an audience that was overwhelmingly black, the white Bermudian woman spoke about how her daughter used to date a former gang member.

?I used to visit him in prison, he?s one of these gang members, but I love him like my own son. He?s not what I would have chosen for her, but I would like to say to all the naive white people who are sitting at home to get off their couch and do something.?

As she continued to speak her words were met with applause from the audience, particularly when she said she would be dedicated to listening to these young men and working to find a solution.

?We will pay for it the wrong way if we don?t help them. White people need to wake up, because these are the men who their daughters are socialising with.?

?What we need to do is rise up and get out of these meeting halls every week and listen. It?s all about listening to these guys, let?s stop talking and listen.?

Seventh Day Adventist Elder Kevin Santucci told yesterday that as a result of Saturday?s meeting, members of the public have decided to organise a Commission of Inquiry to study the issue of violence among young men between the ages of 17 and 25.

While he said Saturday?s meeting was a step in the right direction, Mr. Santucci made a plea to people of all racial backgrounds to join in the effort in finding solutions to prevent outbreaks of the type of violent behaviour which have been plaguing the community over the last several years.

?The public desire a commission on the problems confronting our youth, whether it is Government or independent commission remains to be seen,? he said. ?We will wait to see if the Government want to become involved. If not then it will be made up of a group of people who are concerned and have a desire to see something done.?

Senior citizens, families, church leaders, youth group workers and a member of the political arena, discussed everything from incest to drug use, politics, religion, and education during the three-hour forum. Panellists included former gang member Albert Santucci, community activist Helen Bartley Mateen, Dr. Sidney Gibbons of the Bermuda Conference of Seventh Day Adventists and Sandys Middle School guidance counsellor Austin Warner. United Bermuda Party Senator Leonard Santucci joined youth worker Gerald Fubler and political commentator Rolfe Commissiong in adding their opinions to the lively discussion which at times raised so much emotion that audience members were told to restrict the time they spent speaking at the microphone.

Several well-known names and institutions were mentioned critically at the meeting including Sir John Swan, the Bank of Bermuda and the school system were criticised for creating a system which set up failure for a significant portion of the Island?s young black men. Audience members also urged people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to get involved in ensuring the Island?s young black men do not fall through the cracks of society.

Women?s contributions to anger and frustration in the lives of young black men was agreed upon by the majority of audience members, some like Mr. Warner who spoke about his childhood abandonment by a broken mother who struggled to raise him in Harlem. Mr. Warner said a significant number of young women are dealing with issues ranging from sexuality to paedophilia and incest.

?Young people, in particular young women, are broken at such an early age. We?ve got to get back to old-time values of religion, community, the basic values which build community.?

Mr. Warner suggested a Centre of Excellence should be established as a place where parents can go to receive education and training and advice.