The Progressive Labour Party continued its charm offensive today when Rolfe Commissiong, the Shadow Minister for Human Affairs, praised America’s Cup authorities for initiatives deemed beneficial to young Bermudians.

Twenty-four hours after Walton Brown, the Shadow Minister for Immigration, and Sen Michael Fahy worked apparently hand-in-hand to remove an illegally employed foreign national from a local construction site, Mr Commissiong authored a statement that highlights signs of promise for workforce development.

ACBDA, the company created to deliver on Bermuda’s commitments to the America’s Cup Event Authority and to act as liaison between the America’s Cup and Bermuda, has made a stated commitment to community outreach and the empowerment of young Bermudians.

“The recent announcement by the chairman of the ACBDA, Peter Durhager, that the America’s Cup community outreach programme will include initiatives such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programmes along with sailing and community outreach classrooms is certainly a reflection of that commitment,” the PLP statement read.

“We urge Bermudian families to encourage their children to get involved and facilitate their participation as this represents a golden opportunity for them from a developmental standpoint.

“We also urge ACBDA to ensure that underserved communities throughout Bermuda are part of their community outreach, as their efforts should reflect the rich diversity that is Bermuda.

“The Progressive Labour Party has consistently sounded the clarion call for STEM-based learning to take place at all levels of our education system, as we believe that it will only enhance our global competitiveness.

“We have also strongly recommended that the private sector play its role in tandem with the education system in facilitating STEM learning and related training initiatives in order to enhance our overall workforce development goals.

“Similarly, the proposed sailing programme can provide a positive immersion for our young people that may engender a lifelong love of the sea and even be the first step that may result later in rewarding careers for some as professional merchant seamen.

“The excellent ‘Maritime Cadet Programme’ that the Workforce Development Department facilitates at Prince Edward Island Canada comes readily to mind in this regard. Over the last five to six years, a small but growing number of young Bermudians have been able to obtain their qualifications and are now serving as junior officers on merchant ships that ply the world.

“Our Vision 2025 plan recently outlined in our Budget reply places workforce development and our commitment to STEM learning front and centre as being a key part of our global competitiveness strategy for Bermuda; and we encourage Bermudians to take a look at the Vision 2025 plan at www.plp.bm.