All youth groups on the Island will be invited to take part in the Voluntary Visitor Exchange Programme with the United States, it was revealed yesterday.Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport, Dr. Derrick Binns indicated all youth groups on the Island would eventually be involved in a Voluntary Visitor Exchange Programme but did not say when.

?As a result of our visit we have presented a proposal, which has been accepted by Government, to develop a policy statement that will clearly state what Government expects for and of its youth.

?This statement will then serve to guide all Government agencies working with youth and will also hopefully serve as a beacon for private agencies,? Dr. Binns said.

?The programme was in two parts. During the first part all six of us visited agencies in Washington D.C. and Boston, selected by the US Department of State, based on a description of our needs. The second part saw each participant travel to an individual city to focus on a particular programme of interest to their area of expertise.?

The American Government paid for travel around the States for the team while flights to the US were sponsored by Aon, Continental Airlines and Renaissance Reinsurance

Youth Co-Ordinator Keith Smith went to Atlanta and will make the Boys and Girls Club a charity, Dr. Binns said.

Chief Insp. Jackman visited Detroit and will restart the Junior Cadet Programme of the Bermuda Police Service in due course, he said.

He said CURE?s Education Officer Shan? Simon investigated initiatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Maryland.

And De Boys Day Out Club?s founder Milton Richardson collaborated with youth agencies in Jacksonville, Florida, he said.

Student Dwayne Wesom said he had a life changing experience at the US National Youth Summit and had already used new skills to help friends with negative attitudes get a GED.

?Every problem is an opportunity to get bitter or better,? Mr. Wesom said. ?I have been motivated and continue to motivate my friends and others when needed. I plan to dig deeper in my community and help those that need a little push in reversing their negative lifestyle.?

Premier Alex Scott said an estimated 8,500 Americans currently resided on Island and there were many American international companies.

?The United States, through the developments of its bases, from 1941 until 1995, is one of the first Governments to establish an exchange relationship with Bermuda,? Premier Scott said.

The Premier also said the US knew the future of any country rested on the improvement of its youth and the Voluntary Visitor Exchange Programme sought to provide Bermuda with future leaders.

US Consul General Gregory Slayton said one of the most important missions of the consulate was to maintain strong links between the US and Bermuda.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children claimed it was snubbed in not being invited to a historic exchange programme between the US and Bermuda which resulted in a Government approved National Youth Strategy.

Coalition for the Protection of Children Chairman Sheelagh Cooper said yesterday she did not get a trip to the US because she has criticised Government in the past.

?I normally don?t get invited to these things because I criticise Government,? Mrs. Cooper said yesterday. ?But someone has got to fill this role.?

Since 1992, the youth activist had been in the headlines almost on a monthly basis about child protection issues.