Four of Bermuda?s brightest students have returned from the United Nations in New York after giving a presentation on the pros and cons of Independence to the SC-24 decolonisation committee.

Among the party was Bermuda High School for Girls student Genevieve Bland-Gordon, 14, who was the youngest person ever to appear in front of the committee. The party also included Deidra-Lee Bean, 19, Akilah Beckles, 17, and Caitlin Collis, 14.

Yesterday they visited the Bermuda Independence Commission at Camden to discuss their trip. BIC chairman Rev. Vernon Lambe said the four had been given a standing ovation by the UN committee during their visit from June 15 to June 18.

They were chosen either for their debating aplomb, quiz skills, or essay writing talents.

Akilah Beckles, who said she was pro-Independence, said she was thrilled to meet delegates from all over the world, including Russia and Peru.

She was impressed with the knowledge the committee had of Bermuda. ?They knew more about Bermuda and the present debate than the average Bermudian,? she said.

Deidra-Lee Bean said: ?It was quite moving to be able to address a committee at the UN.?

She said she was open minded on the issue of Bermuda going it alone and urged people to do their own research on the matter. Genevieve Bland-Gordon said Independence wasn?t the right option for Bermuda because the Island was stable and there was no need to change.

Teacher Emma MacKnight said: ?It was a fantastic experience for them to be part of the actual process, not just the debate in Bermuda.?

Meanwhile the BIC committee met again yesterday to hammer out the report which should be presented to Cabinet in the next few weeks.