Government TV will be coming in September along with other initiatives for educating Bermudians on their history, according to Premier Ewart Brown.

Speaking to about 30 people at an Open Mic night that started an hour late and ended a half-hour earlier then advertised, the Premier last night answered questions about tourism, the new homeownership law, gangs and education.

Responding to a question about educating youth more about the struggle black Bermudians had in this country and what was to be done for the generation who are already out of school, the Premier said a reading list and Government TV would be a start. "I have been talking about it for a while. It's (education about the struggle) a void and some say it's already in the curriculum and I don't believe it is," he said, "Without that curriculum we are weak in a certain way.

"Randy Horton has a $150 million budget so we can have well-informed students for free. What we're adding to the existing curriculum will be the mandatory readings in all of the schools."

In response to the question of the older generation, the Premier said: "The Government Television is going to be open in September. We'll satisfy your appetite."

Questioned about how he would increase the number of Bermudians who would take jobs in the hospitality business, which currently pays lower wages than that of the international business arena- he said things were in the works and to contact his party after the next election.

But what seemed to cause the most confusion for both the Premier and the audience at Greg's Steak house was the clear concern expressed by the young Bermudians over their ability to buy a house if they marry a foreigner. Recent legislation has made it mandatory for any Bermudian married to a non-Bermudian to apply for a licence before purchasing the house and would make it illegal for any residency mixed couple to own more than one property, if the non-Bermudian spouse benefited from it.

The Premier said he couldn't get into specifics because he did not have the law in front of him, but supported the legislation because where 37 percent of the land is owned by non-Bermudians something had to be done and challenged the questioner for a better idea.

"My wife can only own the piece of one residence and she understands," he said, "I don't want to get into specifics but you can purchase one (residence) together."

Finally someone asked how the PLP could have accepted Jahmal Simmons, who was present at the open mic night, back into the party, saying they and their peers were "taken aback" at the decision.

"That's where he started," the Premier added, "The PLP has had a rough way to go. If he was excluded from the party that would be a story, but a person may change political choices all the time.

"But that is a sign of growth in Bermuda that you could raise a questions with Jahmal in the room. Who says we're too polite?"