Government should seek waivers for first-time drug offenders who must travel to the US to further their education.

Opposition Sen. Neletha Butterfield suggested this shortly after returning from the US where nine students enrolled in her CARE (Children and Adult Reaching for Education) Computers Services took the General Education Diploma (GED).

Noting that Bermudians who did not finish or graduate from high school had to go overseas to sit the GED or take correspondence courses on their own in order to earn a diploma, Sen. Butterfield said: "It's a real concern when students don't have it (the diploma) because that's where the opportunity stops.'' She also stressed that she believed young people needed to travel and see the rest of the world in order to appreciate Bermuda.

While not aware of any case of a student being prevented from taking the GED due to being on the US stop list, Sen. Butterfield said the situation could happen and Bermuda needed to address it.

"Government needs to talk to those in Washington and see if there is a waiver for educational travel,'' she said.

"There should be some sort of waiver for young people who may be first-time offenders.'' Sen. Butterfield added that she has had concerns about the issue since the administering of the GED was stopped in the prisons, where she offered courses, 13 years ago.

"All hope was lost,'' she said, recalling the level of frustration young men in prison and at Government's old Reach Out rehabilitation centre expressed when they could not travel overseas.

"They went back into their old habits,'' she noted.

"When I was teaching at the prison, they would say why are you teaching us this we're not going to be able to leave the Island anyway and further our education. So I had to find another avenue, such as courses through the Bermuda College, for them. Some of them have looked into that.

"But we all have to work together on this issue. It is only when we do this, that we will see the drop in recidivism.'' The community must accept those who have made mistakes and give them a second chance, Sen. Butterfield -- who has a son who is serving a prison term for drug-related offences -- added.

"Grant it, some may have not changed,'' she admitted. "But we have to take that chance.

"Even in my personal experience I said to my son, `while you're there (in prison) be strong and help and encourage others'.'' EDUCATION ED