The Premier last night promised new moves to fight crime, empower young people and promote recycling.

The initiatives were announced during his First 100 Days Speech televised to the nation last night.

On crime Premier Ewart Brown said: "I have initiated discussions with the Governor on creative ways to combat crime which will strike at the very heart of criminal operations that exploit our challenges and serve to diminish the quality of life we deserve to enjoy in this community."

Those talks with the Governor were probably sparked by startling crime statistics released last month which show a spike in violent crime even though crime overall was down.

In fact the violent crime numbers are at their highest point in seven years.

Dr. Brown said: "The people of Bermuda will be made aware of this government's commitment not only to law and order, but to men and women who work on the front line to provide it."

A 65-year-old restaurant worker listening to the Premier's speech last night said it was time national attention was paid to crime: "You don't see any Policemen anymore.

"They're not patrolling like they used to patrol, that just disturbs me. In an Island this small they've got to be able to do something." has recorded at least 12 violent crimes since the start of the year.

In the 16-minute speech ? which was predictably retrospective, but also forward-looking ? the Premier spent a significant amount of time talking about young people. "I am personally committed to rescuing a generation of Bermudians who for whatever reason are reluctant or unable to take their places as true citizens in their country."

He said the Ministry of Social Rehabilitation would launch its Mirrors Programme which would work with young people who have otherwise fallen through the cracks.

The Premier also promised to meet with young Bermudians studying overseas in the United States and Canada.

According to a Government website, he will begin visiting students next month with stops in Washington DC, Atlanta, Huntsville, Toronto, and Halifax.

He met with United Kingdom-based students in London last year.

A 62-year-old healthcare administrator thought the youth targeted portion of the Premier's speech was the most critical.

She said: "I think he realises nothing truly succeeds without our youth, and so he's going after our youth.

"And I think he has already started to reach them. He did that when he put young people in the Senate.

"He's walking the walk, not just talking the talk. He's done it in sport and in every area."

The same voter thought it was equally important that the Premier did not hide from the education issue.

Graduation rates are below 50 percent and the entire under performing education system is about to face an unblinking review that is forecasted to facilitate change.

The healthcare administrator said: "They're not putting frills on it anymore. Education needs a lot of work and housing needs a lot of work and he's got two good men in there. The numbers have been bad for a while, he's not sugar coating it anymore and I think that's what most people appreciate."

Another voter, a 33-year-old IT consultant thought the Premier's speech lacked substance on education.

He said: "First 100 days, I would have hoped for a little more than 'we have this plan and we're considering this'.

"There's been little done in the last eight years, we've heard nothing but lip service from the last two Premiers on this (education)."

About 45 seconds of the Premier's 16-minute speech dealt specifically with education. The Premier said: "It is time now to face facts and to deal with the performance of our students and urgently address the issues of our system of education as it is not equipping our young people to compete in this increasingly competitive global environment.

"The reality of our situation demanded urgent attention and the full scale review of Bermuda's education system is not only warranted but is vital to preserving the delicate balance that is Bermuda."

The same voter who criticised the Premier for lacking depth on education also congratulated him for declaring 2007 as Bermuda's Year of the Family.

He said: "I like that he made it the year of the family and there's a focus on family and education. That has to be first and everything else will fall into place. But I mean you really have to tackle the issues."

All three voters cited tourism as the strongest arm of Premier Brown's Cabinet in the first 100 days.

The Premier is also Minister of Tourism and remarked in last night's speech: "Jumeirah and Ritz Carlton have committed to Bermuda and their presence is the vote of confidence we have lacked for so long." Late last year the Premier was criticised in some quarters for not including sustainable development in the Throne Speech.

The topic was high on the agenda for his predecessor Premier Alex Scott.

The words sustainable development were once again absent from a Premier Brown speech, but he did promise a new campaign to promote recycling.

He said: "Attention to world events indicates that even we on this small Island must have global environmental concerns.

"The Ministry of Works and Engineering has therefore in this first 100 days prepared the launch of a massive public campaign aimed at making recycling the habit of every home on the Island."

The national audience of voters, watching on television and listening on the radio, permitted the Premier the opportunity to tout his administration's headline grabbing accomplishments during the early months.

The rebound of tourism, the strides in affordable housing, and a robust economy were all mentioned. On finance Premier Brown said: "I am proud to report that the economic stability of Bermuda is sound and that the stewardship of the public purse has been prudent and progressive."

As the Premier addressed the nation he stood between two Bermudian flags wearing a dark suit and a red tie.

There was one camera and he read from a teleprompter. All three voters thought his performance was good.

Even the Premier's harshest critique, the 33-year-old, said: "I thought it was a good speech. He's very good at speechwriting."