Attorney General and Minister of Justice Senator Kim Wilson helped launch the Bridging the Gap conference yesterday.

The two-day event at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel is aimed at linking public and private sectors to address community problems.

Sen. Wilson, who is acting Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, said the conference displayed the Government's commitment to fostering well-adjusted youths, individuals and families.

Topics include working with methamphetamine users, gambling addiction, working with schools to solve the drug problem and engaging and healing the family.

Sen. Wilson said: "Further, the vast attendance today and the subject matter are no doubt indicative of our desire for connectivity and unity in our community.

"I commend the Department of Court Services, the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation and their partnering agencies for their foresight in hosting this conference as the theme reflects the Ministry's motto of 'Building Bridges to Success by Developing Human Potential'."

Sen. Wilson said the conference would allow professionals to build skills and to be exposed to best practices, current research and trends in the field.

She added: "But the conference is also designed to assist individuals, families and the community in moving toward healing and wholesomeness.

"The array of workshops planned highlights the varied responsibilities of this Ministry and the Government service as a whole, but they will assist in achieving our goal of creating greater networking and collaborative opportunities for the public and private sector as well as the faith-based community.

"Each one of us has been impacted in some way by crime, substance misuse and other social ills if not personally, then perhaps, via the misfortune of a family member, a friend, a colleague or even a neighbour."