Young Bermudians have far more opportunity now than ever before, an audience of 200 people were told last night.

Organised by the Progressive Labour Party, the public forum at Dellwood Middle School was kicked off by a panel of six black professionals who led discussions on a range of topics including work permit term limits, labour-government relations, opportunity and sacrifice.

Panellist Kenneth Caesar, a 25 year old teacher, said that he had feared for the youth had the PLP not won the General Election in July.

He said he was only able to get as far as he has because of the opportunity that came about "especially after 1998".

But, he added, while his elders had made many sacrifices, "the people of my generation have yet to sacrifice anything."

"We have the education, we have the opportunity. The problem is us ? we are not waking up to take advantage of the opportunity. My sacrifice is going to be what can I do to get the other young guys to take advantage of the opportunity."

Leon Bascome, a mid level insurance executive and small business owner, said that at the start of his career there were few black mentors and role models in his industry and that hadn't changed much.

"We can probably count ten to 15 black executives in the industry," he said. "You have to be so much better than the rest. Whether you are black or white Bermudian there are so many issues and I always say when you walk through the doors you're basically walking into corporate America."

But he added that his foreign colleagues now looked at Bermudians with a "little more respect" since the PLP came into Government, and regarded locals as "just as smart".

He warned against complacency, saying "racism and sexism" are still a workplace reality and lamented the fact that there were probably no more than five black male executives in his field.

Mr. Bascome also urged Bermudians not to forego the trades as a career option.

"We have to teach the young people that you may not be an insurance executive because educationally you don't have that talent but you're good with your hands so why not be a mason."

The panel also included the Bermuda Industrial Union's Graham Nisbett, lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, moderator Scott Pearman and Leslie Robinson a partner with JLT Risk Solutions.