A panel discussion tomorrow night aims to act as a stepping stone for a community-derived solution to tackle violence associated with the island’s sporting clubs, the event’s moderator says.

The 2017 Symposium, organised by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, looks to test the “physical, emotional, cultural and social health” of Bermuda’s sporting clubs, according to moderator and 25-year fraternity member Dwayne Caines.

“It’s to ask the tough questions,” he said of the event.

The forum — which has been in the planning stages for the last three months — will look at a number of major community issues that have occurred within the last year which stemmed from the social clubs, and particularly the sporting clubs.

The event features a number of panellists, including Southampton Rangers Sports Club’s Jason Wade, Ray Jones, from Devonshire Colts, and Pembroke Hamilton Club’s Michael Trott.

“Every panellist immediately embraced the concept and the idea,” Mr Caines said.

“There was no unreadiness. Most of them jumped to the challenge, and understood the importance of being a voice for their community.”

In order to be on the “front line of change,” Mr Caines said that the critical issues affecting the community must be addressed.

“What we recognise, is that our sports clubs are at the epicentre of the grassroots culture in Bermuda.

“They come into contact with the best of who we are, as a community, and, unfortunately, the worst.”

Panellists will discuss family-oriented activities and educational programming on offer, youth safety, as well as the financial stability of the clubs themselves.

The event will also help examine the relevancy of the clubs in 2017, Mr Caines said.

“Do they still meet the needs of an evolving community? Do they understand the population groups that actually come into their doors?”

The violence around the clubs has become an “all-too-familiar reality”, he said.

On Sunday night, 28-year-old Raymond Butterfield, a footballer with First Division side Wolves, was fatally stabbed near Blue Waters Anglers Club.

The Devonshire resident was father to an eight-week-old daughter, investigators revealed at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

One person has been arrested in connection with the incident.

In a statement provided to The Royal Gazette yesterday, the Bermuda Football Association said it was “saddened by the senseless stabbing that resulted in the loss of life”.

“The BFA sends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased as well as Wolves Football Club,” the BFA Executive Committee said.

“We encourage anyone who has knowledge of the incident to assist the Bermuda Police Service with its investigation.”

The event is not about prescribing an answer to the problem; instead, it is to serve as a forum for the community to plot their own way forward, Mr Caines said.

“It is a pathway that gives the community an opportunity — in a non-threatening, warm, community-focused environment — to have the discussion openly and honestly,” he said.

“We believe in order for real change to happen around the sporting clubs, there has to be a commitment from the whole community.”

The two-hour event at CedarBridge begins at 6pm.