Bermudian addresses young people in House of Commons
A young Bermudian talked about access to education in the lower house of the British Parliament today.
Vincent Darrell, who spoke in the House of Commons, was the first Bermudian man, and third overall, to address the UK Youth Parliament.
The UK Youth Parliament, formed in 1999, comprises about 300 members aged between 11 and 18, who have been elected by other young people to represent their interests.
Mr Darrell, a former member of Bermuda’s Youth Parliament, highlighted a 2016 census brief which showed that 30 per cent of Bermudians had a university degree, compared with 52 per cent of non-Bermudian residents.
He explained: “These differences are reminiscent of economic, social and historical barriers that have no place on an island aiming for prosperity.”
Mr Darrell added: “Limited education restricts upward mobility, emphasising the need for lifelong learning and upscaling to compete in the job market.”
He told the House that changing the perception of education could remove these barriers.
Mr Darrell said: “If we desire to help Bermudians climb the socioeconomic ladder, we must avoid framing education simply as a stepping stone to employment and instead consider education a valuable pursuit and encourage individuals to pursue lifelong learning.”
He urged leaders in Bermuda to “focus on bringing light, liberty and learning to everyone” when reforming the island’s education system.
In a post on X, the Bermuda London Office said that Mr Darrell “spoke from the despatch box to an audience of youth representatives from across United Kingdom constituencies, as well as fellow Overseas Territories, advocating for more inclusive and accessible pathways to higher education”.
Another post added: “The Government of Bermuda London Office commends Mr Darrell for his exemplary contribution to the discussion and for representing Bermuda’s youth with such distinction.”
A government spokeswoman said Mr Darrell’s address showed “the growing impact of Bermudian youth on important international platforms”.
She added: “Mr Darrell’s participation was made possible through the collaboration and support of the Office of the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Government of Bermuda London Office as stakeholders of this key initiative.”
Kimberley Durrant, the British-based representative for the Government of Bermuda, said: “The London Office remains committed to providing similar opportunities for young Bermudians to engage in global dialogues, showcasing the leadership of our country’s next generation.”
Jasiah Durham and Katherine Gunther represented Bermuda at the UK Overseas Territories Association Youth Summit yesterday.
The Bermuda London Office said on X: “The summit is a prominent forum that began in 2023, designed to empower the youth of the UK Overseas Territories by encouraging innovative thinking, fostering dialogue across the territories and providing the tools and skills to enhance cross-territory initiatives.
“This year, the summit was held at British Virgin Islands House in London with the theme ‘Diversity and Inclusivity in the Overseas Territories’.
“Participants engaged in discussions on thematic topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, neurodiversity in education and immigration and migration.”
Other participating territories at the summit included Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Saint Helena.
Activist Taj Donville-Outerbridge, another former member of Bermuda’s Youth Parliament, discussed LGBTQ+ rights during the summit.
His speech outlined the state of LGBTQ+ rights in British Overseas Territories and the role that the UK Government played in securing equal rights in the territories.
Mr Donville-Outerbridge said: “The general reaction was positive.
“Although there is still a lot misinformation out there among the young people from the British Overseas Territories, especially those in the Caribbean, about LGBTQ+ folks, it was clear from the contributions from the Bermuda representatives that Bermuda remains a leader in this space and that our government can do more to advocate for the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights with the their Caribbean BOT counterparts.”
Mr Donville-Outerbridge said that he discussed OutBermuda’s policy manifesto and the work he had done as an advocate and as OutBermuda’s deputy chairman.
He closed with a call to action for young people, urging them to stay engaged with activism and politics.
• To read the 2016 Housing Census and Population Brief, see Related Media
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