Mr. Gibbons was arrested by Police probing anonymous fliers attacking the Queen.

A group formed to defend the 19-year-old has since accused Police of trampling on free speech.

But yesterday the Hon. Jerome Dill said young people needed to be reminded that they operated within the framework of the law and their actions had consequences.

This was a point that had not yet been made, he said.

Among those defending Mr. Gibbons on Monday was Shadow Health Minister Mr.

Nelson Bascome, representing the 100 Black Men group.

Businessman Mr. Manders Ingham, newspaper columnist Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, and spiritual leader of the Hebrew Israelites Mr. Ben Israel also spoke out for him.

The four are members of "Bermudians Concerned About Democracy In Bermuda'' -- which they describe as a loose coalition.

They claim backing from Bermuda Industrial Union members, and a large part of the community.

The National Liberal Party has also expressed concern at the arrest.

The controversial flier was publicised the day before the Queen arrived here for a two-day visit on March 9.

It called on black high school and college students to boycott the visit.

It described the Queen as a "syphilitic whore'' and "the living symbol of the brutal, racist imperialistic power struggle that enslaves our people''.

The flier has been linked with the magazine Nationalist, which has lashed the alleged racist power structure in Bermuda.

Mr. Dill, whose Human Affairs Ministry is responsible for tackling racism, is mocked in the latest issue of the magazine.

But yesterday he said he agreed with some of the comments in the publications concerning "areas of difficulty in our community and society''.

He refused to comment on whether Police were right to arrest Mr. Gibbons until "all the facts are out in the open''.

But he said there were general issues that needed to be pointed out.

"It's extremely important at the end of the day that you actually explain to young people that it's about taking responsibility for your actions.'' If someone wrote such things about Bermuda's head of state, and published remarks that were "obviously capable of being construed as an incitement to violence'', then they had to expect Police to be interested.

Mr. Dill said he was worried that intelligent young people like Mr.

Gibbons were at risk of being "lost''.

If charges were brought the courts would decide whether Police were correct in bringing them, he added.