Political activist Raymond Russell says Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan was right to blame the older generations for the disaffection of youth.

Mr. Russell said he supported Minister Farrakhan's comments on Monday evening at a public address at the National Sports Centre.

The NOI leader said society only had itself to blame for the growing problems of gangs, drugs and violence.

Minister Farrakhan said: "There is a great divide now between the youth and their elders and some of us as elders don't know anymore how to reach our youth and we think our youth are really a lost generation.

"Our young people are really the best generation we have produced and they are rejecting leadership and are disconnected from their teachers, their parents, their politicians and the general leadership of the nations.

"You have to realise not that there is something wrong with our children but there may be something wrong with us, that our children are rejecting our leadership."

Mr. Russell told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he felt part of the problem stemmed from a lack of respect for women in modern Bermudian society.

"I agree with Mr. Farrakhan that these youngsters are beautiful, but if they don't see the respect from the seniors, they will follow suit," he said.

"Men are disrespectful and derogatory to our women, and the conservation is all about money and sex.

"If our seniors don't start to respect themselves, and particularly our women who are the backbone of this country, then it is just going to be finished."

Mr. Russell said: "If you lose respect for your women then you are in triple trouble. That's why you've got young girls with three or four babies from different fathers, it's because men have lost respect for them.

"Men should always respect women because of their mothers who brought them into this world, and their sisters."

Mr. Russell, 69, of Pembroke, said he referred to "seniors" as anyone over the age of 25.

"In Bermuda the biggest problem we have, like Mr. Farrakhan said, is that our seniors have lost respect for ourselves. Consequently the youngsters have followed suit," he said.

"Over the years the respect due to women in Bermuda is not being given to them anymore, and it shows in our society, that our families are becoming weak."

Commenting on the recent gang violence, he said: "Most of us are relatives. You could hit me on the head and then find out I'm your first cousin.

"Young men who have not taken the education available to them, they are now looking to drugs as something glamorous.

"I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I am concerned, because I feel Bermuda could end up even worse than it is now.

"What we need to do is get Bermuda back to the great country it should be."