Bermuda cannot afford to suffer a "brain drain" so must engage its young people in the future of the Island, the Premier told a press conference yesterday.

Alex Scott, announcing that the Government was setting up a Sustainable Development Youth Round Table, said youngsters wanted to be included in decision-making on the Island and must be given the opportunity to air their views.

"Most communities experience a brain drain but Bermuda certainly does not have, because of our size, the ability to lose any of our resources," he said.

"Having them (young people) on the sustainable development committee means we are not only stabilising their careers and futures but ours."

Public consultation on the Government's draft Sustainable Development Plan ? which sets out a blueprint for the future of Bermuda ? ends today.

But Mr. Scott said that even when the final version was published it would not be engraved in granite and the Youth Round Table would have ample opportunity to contribute ideas, concerns and opinions.

He added: "The Sustainable Development Youth Round Table will allow us to achieve this end and bring the voices of the young people of our country into the decision-making process on sustainable development in order to address those economic, social, environmental and political issues facing Bermuda today and in the future."

Mr. Scott introduced a steering committee comprised of young and older members who will help to organise the Youth Round Table over the next year.

Committee member Kimberley Caines, 22, from Young United, the youth wing of the United Bermuda Party, said: "I'm excited to see that young people are involved. It's very true that young people are interested in the future of our country.

"It's great to see that there has been a connection established."

Fellow member Tina Nash, a guidance counsellor at Bermuda High School for Girls, said: "It's about time that the Government of the day ... asked our youth to stand up and be accountable."