Nineteen Bermudian students were presented to Premier Alex Scott yesterday after returning from a debating conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The students from Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School and CedarBridge Academy were all presented with certificates by Mr. Scott yesterday afternoon.

The conference debate was titled ?Modern Mass Media ? the Influence of Information? and was organised in association with the Global Arts Entertainment Company.

Addressing the students yesterday, Mr. Scott said: ?As Premier of Bermuda, there are few topics more satisfying to me than speaking about the positive things our young people have done or about to do.?

?I can only hope that in years to come you will carry your debating skills into another forum, that of Parliament and then you can engage in reasoned debate on pressing issues in a way that generates heat, yes, but also and more important, learning and forward progress.?

He added that as one who deals with the media on an ongoing basis he could fill ten broadsheets and at least ten news programmes with his own experiences.

?I know first hand what media influences can signify, and so I was quite intrigued that two key assessments during the debates outlined the need for more truth and integrity in news gathering, and drew attention to the effect of bias on the end product,? said Mr. Scott.

He thanked the principals of Global Arts Entertainment Company for making the event possible.

Global Arts Entertainment Company CEO Andrew Phillips said the students were being presented with a certificate from the Friends of the UN and Global Arts on behalf of the Bermuda Global Quest for Peace and Tolerance Campaign.

He said: ?The Bermuda support conference attendees can look forward to receiving their awards soon in their assembly halls.

?After a successful delivery of the Bermuda prototype for Global Peace and Tolerance at the UN Headquarters, the Bermuda campaign partnered with the Friends of the UN and the UN School is now preparing to move off site and assist other countries and regions with an exhilarated peace and tolerance process.?