We, the undersigned are profoundly disappointed that the Premier has announced the General Election for February 18, 2025 — while droves of young Bermudians are off the island in pursuit of higher education.

The Premier’s choice denies young Bermudians their right to vote, participate in the electoral process, and have a direct influence on Bermuda’s future.

This decision is troubling, perplexing and reminiscent of a past that current leaders have condemned.

In 1998, former union leader and current Deputy Speaker of the House [Derrick Burgess] was justifiably and astutely “concerned that parents of overseas students, already overladen with steep tuition and school expenses, should even have to consider the additional expense of bringing home a child for a day or two to vote”.

Tuition has nearly tripled since 1998, and deregulation within the aviation industry has led to exorbitant flight costs — drastically increasing the same barriers for youth to vote.

Most importantly, although the Premier calls general elections — the Bermudian taxpayers pay for them, which can cost almost $700,000.

Bermuda is at a critical juncture, with an ageing population, declining birthrate, rising costs of living, and an alarming number of Bermudians leaving the island for stability.

Young people are critical to improving our island. Yet, for many young people, this election would have been their first opportunity to vote since the 2020 snap election.

Particularly as the Government has yet to progress on its 2012 plan to “examine various options surrounding absentee ballots” — young people abroad will be unable to vote.

Bermuda Youth Connect was founded during the last national election in 2020 in response to gaps across the board in youth engagement. As daughters, sons and proud Bermudians, it saddens us to watch the slow hallowing of democratic norms that members of The Progressive Group, like Florenz Webbe Maxwell, Reverend Dr Erskine Simmons and Izola Harvey worked diligently and morally to attain.

We encourage youth to register to vote in the same spirit of persistence and boldness.

The registration deadline is January 16, 2025, and voters can update their information or register to vote at http://elections.gov.bm.

As we gear up for the next General Election, we look forward to the events that Bermuda Youth Connect will host as we dare to invent the future we want to see.

We encourage you all to do the same.

In Hope,

Bermuda Youth Connect, Bermuda Is Love and Taj-Donville Outerbridge