students.

Ms Gordon, who met some 60 students in the Student Centre, outlined the United Bermuda Party's mission for Bermuda's youth before responding to their random questions.

"You are the young people, the future of Bermuda,'' she told them. "I am here today to encourage you to receive sufficient education and sufficient information so you can make sensible decisions.

"You can only improve a country if you educate the people. Not just the black people, not just the white people, but all the people.'' During the question-and-answer session, a few students revealed their concerns with the Premier.

One student asked: "The youth are always complaining that there is nothing to do. What is the Government doing to provide recreational facilities? Will they provide a youth centre or something similar?'' Ms Gordon explained Government is currently rebuilding the National Stadium.

"We always hear that no-one wants the noise of the outdoor sessions, so the UBP is going to revamp and rename the National Stadium to the Bermuda National Sports Centre. Within the next two years, there will be a night club (concert) facility that will cater to your music needs. It will be able to hold 5,000 people and will be acoustically structured so no-one outside can hear what's going on.

"We will bring in the big names from abroad to provide for your social needs and wants.

"There will also be a 50-metre swimming pool, professional diving boards, basketball courts, netball courts and a field for the ladies' hockey team.

"So many Bermudians are involved in some kind of sport, but this centre will allow them to develop their talents so they can represent the country. "It will provide social settings as well as standard sporting grounds for those who do not consider themselves to be academic.'' A second student raised the issues of racism and drugs. "A lot of people look at Bermuda as a paradise, but I know and you know and everyone here knows that Bermuda still has some skeletons in its closet.

"Two of the major ones are racism and drugs,'' the male student said. "Many people choose to ignore the issue of racism, but we all know that it exists.

When is the Government going to regulate or hopefully eradicate racism?'' He followed this up with a hard-hitting question about the recent joint US/Bermuda Police drug sting, Operation Cleansweep. "Operation Cleansweep was viewed by many as a minor attempt to pacify the community,'' he said. "It was a positive thing, yes, but it only locked up a few of the small-time drug dealers. None of the big fish were fried. When is the Government going to turn their efforts to them?'' First touching on the racism aspect, Ms Gordon said: "Yes, I know racism exists. There is no easy solution to that problem. But as a community we must pull together to try and become one.

"And as a Government we must address the issues of not just one section of the community, but everyone. The black, the white, the men, the women, the young, the old, they are all on our list.'' "Regarding Operation Cleansweep, you are right,'' Ms Gordon added. "It was a positive thing. To prevent the need of another crack-down, we as your Government must provide you with sufficient education and sufficient information so you can make sensible decisions that will not end up in you "sitting on the wall'' dealing in or addicted to drugs.'' The final question came from a student who wanted some answers to the issue of local companies employing foreign workers.

"Many times I have noticed employers turning away young Bermudians even though they are over-qualified for the job,'' the female student said. "What is the Government going to do to give us young people a chance when we return home from college abroad?'' Ms Gordon said: "I will soon be travelling to England to discuss with officials the need for young Bermudian students to be allowed to work while in college over there. You see, employers look for job experience and if you cannot get a job while studying, how can you get such experience? "I will argue my point that we are a British colony and our young people should be allowed to work and get experience so they can return and find a job.''