The Island's international businesses should adopt Bermudian youngsters, Premier Pamela Gordon told top executives yesterday.

She said the international business sector could boost Bermuda and their own companies by investing in education and backing young people.

Ms Gordon told top business figures: "Bermuda's young people have a great deal to offer.

"They are tomorrow's human capital, they are tomorrow's hope and prosperity -- but only if they are given the chance today to gain the experience and expertise which will be later required of them.'' Ms Gordon was speaking at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce's 180-firm International Business Division at the Hamilton Princess yesterday.

She acknowledged the massive contribution international business has made to the prosperity of the whole Country.

Ms Gordon said there were more than 2,500 Bermudians working in the international sector and hundreds of millions of dollars were pumped through offshore business and into the Island economy.

But she added that only nine of the 300 international companies in Bermuda had signed up for a job training and employment scheme, set up jointly between the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs and the international business world.

The scheme -- exempt from payroll tax -- allows school-leavers to get into international business and get paid to learn.

Ms Gordon said: "I would like to state that nine out of 300 says that there is room for growth.'' Firms urged to `adopt a child' She added that Government expected to place hundreds of young people on summer work programmes -- and said she hoped the private sector would recruit "hundreds more.'' She called on the ICD to recruit from the school-leaving pool and from college graduates returning to Bermuda.

She said: "If your business has not adopted a student, a family, a PTA, a school class or an entire school, I urge you to do so.'' And she urged the international sector to back the Government school system.

Ms Gordon said: "It's not just about feeding and supporting the private schools -- the purpose of reform is that we can continue to grow and satisfy the needs of the business community.'' Afterwards, ICD chairman David Ezekiel said the Premier had restated her support for the international business sector.

He admitted: "There were a couple of challenges there in stepping up to the plate on employment and education issues.'' EDUCTION ED BUSINESS BUC CONFERENCE CON