Family and youth are the priority in Government’s ‘vision for the future’.

This morning’s Throne Speech stressed the nation must invest in young people to “weather the storm” of the global economic downturn.

Reading the Speech, Governor Sir Richard Gozney touched on the words of Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri, who, in a commentary on the global economic crisis, said: “What we need now more than ever is a vision beyond the event, a vision of renewal.”

As part of this “vision of renewal”, Government is to set up Apprenticeship Regulations to provide a basis for the National Training Board to regulate contracts, through guidelines for the management and operations of the National Apprenticeship System.

Sir Richard said: “This will ensure that Bermuda’s youth have internationally recognised technical qualifications and a legislative framework that promotes training and produces a better trained trades-workforce.”

In addition, there will be improved careers advice in public schools and the creation of a One-Stop Career Centre.

At the other end of the spectrum, Government has pledged to review the cost and availability of prescription drugs for seniors.

It will also start work on the new hospital, which is to be “constructed on the existing site” of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The Throne Speech claims the new facility “will cost less than half of the original proposed price”.

In schools, Government is to “concentrate on arresting the trend of anti-social behaviour”. Sir Richard said: “Growing incidences of gang-style activity will not be tolerated.”

Meanwhile on the roads, new motorists will undergo a system of graduated licensing, with amendments to the Auxiliary Bicycles Act 1954. Government is also to introduce a Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering will also “continue to aggressively maintain our Island’s infrastructure and the phased and managed repaving of roads will continue to enrish the communities outside the City of Hamilton.”

In the domestic arena, Government is to establish a Juvenile and Family Treatment System for the “therapeutic treatment of families whose dysfunction can be reversed”.

If people are unwilling to come on board however, Sir Richard said: “Government will enact parental responsibility legislation to make parents accountable for the delinquency of their children.”

In the area of law and order, Government is to go ahead with its Witness Care Unit to protect witnesses through a police liaision officer. The Justice Protection Bill will also legislate for those witnesses who have to be relocated overseas for their own safety.

As part of a drive to improve the nation’s health and to create the sports stars of the future, the Ministry of the Environment and Sports is to build a swimming and dive centre at the National Sports Centre.

Government is also to establish a ‘Cultural Legacy Fund’ with initial seed money to promote the Island’s culture in the year of its 400th anniversary.

In the Throne Speech, Sir Richard also set out his remit as Governor, saying he intended to remain “vigilant in my role of overseeing law and order and some of the accountability”.

He said other domestic issues were the responsibility of Government. “My views on those issues could only be private views and I don’t think Bermuda needs to hear a Governor’s private views on them,” he said.

Sir Richard will however, shortly be appointing a new Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, and in March, the Chief Justice.

He also spoke of the retirement of Auditor General Larry Dennis next summer. “So we shall need a new figure in that office in due course,” he said.