PREMIER Ewart Brown is urging young Bermudians to be prepared to serve their country, saying that their vision is essential for the island's future prosperity.

And he also took a swipe at conscripts opposed to serving in the Bermuda Regiment, arguing that "the price of living in paradise is that we as citizens must always contemplate how it is that we can give back to our country".

Addressing an audience of Sandys Rotarians on Wednesday night, Dr. Brown said: "You have committed to building strong relationships that promote opportunity for the advancement of Bermuda. You have set strong ethical standards and a mantra of "community first". The use of your professional occupations to further the betterment of young Bermudians is most exemplary and on behalf of this Government let me thank you for your continuing efforts.

"As a service organisation I cannot pass up the opportunity to address one aspect of service playing out just down the road from here. Much has been said about the service of young Bermudian males in the Bermuda Regiment. The Minister of Public Safety and Housing said it best when he wondered what those young men who have said they are against serving in the Regiment, would do for their country.

"I was saddened to hear the comments of one of the elders in the movement that he thought that there was no requirement to give back to Bermuda by some form of national service. The price of living in paradise is that we as citizens must always contemplate how it is that we can give back to our country. I have chosen the realm of politics and many of you have served with distinction in other areas. I cannot predict the outcome of any matter before the courts but my hope is that these young men will serve their country in some way and do so recognising that duty takes many forms, Regiment service is but one.

"It is in this vein that I urge a continued call to arms for you and bodies like yours. The good work that you do can further be complimented by community activities that enhance our culture and allow our local concerns to peacefully co-exist with the inevitable trends of globalisation.

"The future well being of this country will be determined by our ability to inspire our young people to preserve it, nurture it and to provide a vision for its continued success."

Dr. Brown added he was committed to encouraging Bermudians currently studying and working overseas to one day return to the island to share the benefit of their experiences.

"I never had the opportunity to be an exchange student but I know the value of overseas experiences," he told a packed audience. "My parents saw that value long before I did when they determined that their wayward son would wither on the vine if his mind was not exposed to something new, fresh and exciting. I have spent some considerable time outside of Bermuda and I am convinced that whatever little I have contributed to this community has been greatly enhanced by those experiences.

"The world is a great classroom and I hope that the club's exchange students, both local and Bermudians overseas, make the most of their experiences. My responsibility in government is to make certain that Bermuda remains the destination of choice for our returning students and, once they land, give them the support they need to aim higher and achieve more.

"I met with students in London and for almost two hours fielded their questions and engaged them in an exchange that I hope made it clear that the land of their birth welcomes them and expects that their achievements will benefit their island one day. I have determined that this interaction with students cannot be confined to that traditional excursion to the UK alone.

"In the coming months I will visit centres of learning in North America to conduct a similar exercise. Halifax, Toronto, Huntsville, Alabama, Washington DC and Atlanta will be among those cities visited."