Premier Ewart Brown has congratulated the latest graduates of the Mirrors programme for young people.

The programme aims to promote the self-development of the Island's under-24s, and steer them away from lives of crime.

Dr. Brown delivered a speech at the sixth graduation event for Mirrors participants on Sunday, at the Berkeley Institute.

He noted that, since he plans to step down later this year, it was the last such event he would attend.

"I am honoured to be able to be here with you on this important night," he told the graduates.

"As I look upon the Mirrors graduates I am filled with a myriad of emotions. I am filled with pride, because I know the sacrifices you have made to be here, the time you have spent working towards being here and the diligence it took to get here.

"I am filled with a slight tinge of sadness as this will be the final Mirrors graduation that I will attend as your Premier. Yet I am filled with tremendous hope that the small seed that was planted just a few years ago when Mirrors was created will continue to grow, expand and improve the lives of our young people."

He praised the work of those who work on the programme, and went on to comment: "Mirrors grew out of my passion to see our young people achieve their full potential. Throughout my life I have witnessed young men and women with brilliant minds, courageous hearts and immeasurable talent waste those gifts, destroying their futures and ruining not only their lives but the lives of those around them. I knew that if our government could accomplish nothing else we had to do all we could to keep our youth off this path of destruction."

He said that Mirrors graduates show an improvement in their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth, and can be witnessed across Bermuda reconnecting with the community and becoming productive citizens.

"To the young men and women here this evening we applaud you as you step from the dark nights of doubt into the sunlight of the days ahead," he added.

"As you move you through life I urge you to draw upon the advice, skills, and support received from the mentors and staff at the Mirrors Programme. Continue to make them, your family and the country proud."