The Royal Gazette can reveal.

For Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess has given the green light to an Island version of the Airborne Initiative, based in Scotland and designed to give offenders an alternative to jail.

And insurance giants RenaissanceRe are to chip in with a substantial chunk of the $265,000 needed for start-up and development costs -- and will back the scheme further with an annual donation.

Mr. Burgess said: "It's a Bermudianised version of the scheme I went to have a look at in Scotland and we see it as offering a second chance to young offenders.

"To the young men who find themselves falling foul of the law, this offers hope on the one hand and a unique opportunity on the other.'' He added: "The model didn't require a lot of altering, but it did require a Bermuda touch.'' The project will employ as many as a dozen Bermudian staff on the residential programme, which runs for nine weeks in Scotland.

Bermudians course bosses will be selected and undergo a period of training in Scotland.

The Scottish model uses a challenging programme of outdoor activities, linked to classroom skills training, as well as advice on job hunting and education in a bid to coax youngsters out of a life of crime.

Mr. Burgess said: "RenaissanceRe are the real heroes -- this is how Bermuda benefits from the real trickle down from offshore business based in Bermuda.

"They came on board willingly and showed they are prepared to engage in a programme which will give Bermudian males an alternative to incarceration and a second chance in life. And I want to thank them for their sterling commitment.

"This will be a tripartite programme involving Government, and indeed the young Bermudian males themselves.

"And the success of the programme is going to depend on the ability of the three parties to work together and the participants being prepared to take advantage of the new choice.'' A team from the Scottish project visited the Island earlier this year and drew up a report on the suitability of the scheme for use in Bermuda.

Mr. Burgess said it would take a year to get everything in place for the first candidates for the programme.

He added: "We're not going to rush it -- we only have one chance to get it right and we owe it to the young men who will be coming after to get it right.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity -- my concern for young men is well-known and that has driven me to ensure that we as a Government get on with it as this offers both hope and opportunity.'' Ministry Coordinator of Security Services Martin Law added: "For it to work, it will have to be a Bermudian-run organisation.'' He added Paget Island would probably be used for some parts of the course, but said other venues were being considered.