Too many young people on the Island are being lost to vices and social ills, a youth advocate has warned.

Keetha Lowe, president of Integrated Global Management (IGM) and former UBP candidate for the Hamilton East constituency, gave the warning while speaking at the Hamilton Rotary Club.

“Often, when youth reach the ages of 18 and 19, it is said that you cannot do anything with them — but my question is, what did you do with them yesterday?” Ms Lowe challenged.

She stressed that her interest in youth development and social adjustment has nothing to do with politics, adding: “I am not content with the climate on either side.

“I feel that we are in a position to prevent versus having to respond on a contingency basis and there is far more that we (adults) can do collectively.”

She cited last week’s march on Parliament by more than 60 teenaged protesters as an indication that today’s young people are very concerned and perhaps frustrated with the current state of affairs.

She explained: “I, too, am a mother and when I listen to the words of young people and have the opportunity to read and hear about what they have to say in their context, I can recognise my own children.

“I hear their concerns and the issues that they raise. There are a number of social imbalances within our community right now.

“Unfortunately, some of our young people ‘graduate’ into our judicial system, where basically it ends up resulting in an revolving door.

“What I am interested in, that each of us adults, in our own way, whether it’s personally, professionally or politically, get involved in helping and mentoring a young person’s life.”

The single mother of three also reported on an overseas visit to Louisville, Kentucky, in May, to promote Bermuda and its youth development.

Three talented young Bermudians accompanied her to participate in Kentucky state Senator Gerald Neal’s 15th annual fundraiser — that fosters scholarships for minority college students within the state of Kentucky.

Twanee Butterfield, KeAngelo Maybury and Sean Clarke, all aged 20-30 and vocal artists, performed in front of the thousands in attendance, generating much ovation and interest in Bermuda.

Ms Lowe graduated from Towson State University in Maryland in 1991, specialising in Human, Industrial and Advanced Public Relations.