Two veteran community activists are hoping to meet with the Island's leaders to talk about direct action on gang violence.

Terry Flood and Raymond Russell, both originally from the St. Monica's Road area, want to meet with the Premier, Governor, Police Commissioner, Commissioner of Prisons, Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, the Public Safety Minister, Shadow Public Safety Minister and the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, to discuss greater community involvement.

"We want to see what we can do as community activists, to help the Police and Government, and also the boys on the wall who feel disillusioned," said Mr. Flood.

"We are both concerned about what's happening in our country today, with the growing violence, and we both throw our support behind the Commissioner of Police, the Governor and the Minister for Public Safety. The only thing that will restore peace on the streets is for the community to come together and back the Police."

Mr. Flood, a part-time taxi driver, added: "We also want to get involved with the schools, PTAs, the churches, clubs and football clubs, to get more education out there on the destructive nature of drugs and violence.

"The situation is currently out of control and it's time that we took back Bermuda.

"This is not an area problem, it is affecting people from every area, from Tucker's Town to Middletown. Innocent people are being held hostage and the only way to solve the problem is for the community to come together. And with action not just by marching, but by getting involved."

Both Mr. Flood and Mr. Russell have been awarded Queen's Certificates for their outstanding service to the community in the past.

Among his achievements, Mr. Flood was founder of the first registered housing association, the Low-cost Prefab Housing Association, and was a president of the CedarBridge Parent Teacher Student Association.

Mr. Russell is a veteran community and political activist who is well known in Bermuda for fighting for the underdog. Just last year he created the Our Civil Rights Union (OCRU) a trade union for worker's rights open to anyone, regardless of profession or trade.

He is also chairman of the Civil Rights Association.

Mr. Russell said: "The community coming together also means working with grandmothers, mothers and fathers, to get them more involved and to see them taken care of.

"The key to tackling the gang violence also involves making sure our elders and mothers are OK, that they have enough food on the table. We need to go into the community and work down."

He added: "I also feel the business community needs to show more concern about the situation."