Four young people have won praise for their performance as interns at the Department of Planning.

Jessica Tannock, Onè Hart, Antonio Bailey and Meredith Gillespie have been involved in research and writing reports about planning under the supervision of information systems officer Stewart Bruce and senior planning officer Julie Marshall.

Acting Director of the Department of Planning Chris Bulley said: “While it’s vital that we all support and develop the skills of young Bermudians, the real delight has been to witness their enthusiasm, inquisitiveness and the fresh perspectives they brought to the tasks they were assigned.

“We believe they will return to their studies with a fuller understanding of how their theoretical knowledge needs to be adapted and applied to real project situations.

“We are both pleased and proud to have hosted each one of our talented interns and take this opportunity to thank them for their valued contributions to the Department, to celebrate their individual achievements and to wish them well as they continue their studies.”

Ms Tannock has been using map-making software and recording and assessing the island’s abandoned buildings.

Ms Hart has been carrying out research on tree preservation orders, which protect specific trees or a particular area, group or woodland from deliberate damage and destruction.

Mr Bailey has been helping out in the forward planning section, while Ms Gillespie was tasked with creating a report on residential land availability on the island.