Although Premier Ewart Brown did not speak directly to young people last night in his address, it?s clear they were part of his target audience. On issues like social rehabilitation, education, and sport ? young people were at the core.

The Premier said: ?Perhaps the most rewarding experience of this first 100 days was an electrifying interaction with Bermudian students resident in the United Kingdom.?

That forum last year has apparently paved the way for at least five more university minded visits in the United States and Canada. The Premier will meet with students, dine with them, and listen to their concerns about their home country.

A 65-year-old restaurant worker who watched the speech on television last night said: ?He?s going to the college campuses and that?s something no one has ever done before.

?So many of these kids, they go to school, and when they get back there?s nothing for them to do.?

Blogger and columnist Christian Dunleavy is more sceptical.

He has dubbed the college tour ?Pimp the Vote,? and has suggested on his website that the idea is really an election campaign event at taxpayers? expense. Premier Brown?s efforts to reach students overseas also includes a spin off programme begun late last year. He said: ?A significant project is underway with the Ministry of Labour and Immigration to compile a Register of Overseas students so that we know who is where, and studying what, at all times.?

The plan is to make the register available to local employers while also giving the Ministry the information it needs to ?ensure that suitably qualified Bermudians are given the first opportunity for jobs in Bermuda,? a Ministry source said.

The Premier took the conversation back to young people when he talked about the country?s development in sport.

Money in the tens of millions has been earmarked for cricket and football over the next few years.

?The importance of sport as a developmental tool for young people cannot be overstated,? Premier Brown said.

He also touted the soon-to-begin Mirrors programme which he described as: ?Youth intervention ... destined to change lives as it builds young people up from hopelessness and an existence of disarray in which they become liabilities to their community.?

Mobilising the youth vote has been a mainstay of Premier Brown?s agenda and it took on added politically significance with the recent resignation of Opposition Shadow Minister Jamahl Simmons. He was the United Bermuda Party?s youngest elected official and one of it most high profile.