As the Government seeks to grow and diversify our economy, we must ensure that our youth have every opportunity to be full participants in the economy of today and tomorrow’s Bermuda.

Whether it is ensuring the education system has the resources to be effective, expanding access to higher education with more funding for scholarships and grants, or ensuring we have strategies to transition our youth into the workforce through the implementation of the National Workforce Development Plan, the Government is working hard to make certain that as the economy grows. Bermudians will not be left behind.

Just a few months ago the Government promised our youth and their families that we would:

• Revive the Cabinet internship programme to secure fresh Bermudian talent for careers in the Civil Service

• Create opportunities for young Bermudians based in London, Brussels and Washington to shadow government representatives and gain invaluable experience on the world stage

Last week, David Burt, the Premier, announced the fulfilment of that pledge by unveiling three programmes:

1, The Workforce Development “Enhanced Programme”, where the top five Bermudian undergraduate summer-student applicants will be assigned to the Cabinet office. There they will work on significant projects in the area of policy and strategy in the delivery of the Government’s agenda to deliver a better, fairer Bermuda. They will also have the opportunity to serve in areas that match their sphere of interest or course of study within the Civil Service

2, The Summer Internship Programme, where three Bermudian postgraduate or master’s degree candidates will be assigned to our overseas offices for up to 12 weeks

3, Leadership Scholars, where the top students at CedarBridge Academy and the Berkeley Institute will be invited to accompany the Premier and the Bermuda delegation to the Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in July. There they will experience first hand the critical meetings and discussions that take place at these annual gatherings

These initiatives reinforce the Government’s commitment to support our youth and young adults, by providing them with first-class opportunities that will assist them in developing their skill sets and deliver valuable workplace experiences, charting them on pathways to successful and fulfilling careers.

We believe that Bermudians must come first in our country. We cannot make the mistakes of the past where economic successes left Bermudians sidelined. To us, a better, fairer Bermuda means our children have the education, experience and tools to get hired, advance and run our own companies right here in Bermuda.

Today, with the fulfilment of this promise and the creation of new opportunities for our youth, we are another step farther along the road towards a better, fairer Bermuda.

• Jason Hayward, a government senator, is the Junior Minister for Education, Health, and Labour, Community Affairs and Sport