Throne Speech plans to get jobless young people back to work have been welcomed by social services agencies – but the Opposition demanded specifics on the proposals.

The speech, delivered by Rena Lalgie, the Governor, on behalf of the Government, pledged help for unemployed people aged from 18 to 26.

The same age group was highlighted last year by Jason Hayward, the labour minister, as the worst hit by unemployment.

The Throne Speech last Friday highlighted “multigenerational trauma” and lack of opportunities as contributory factors and called for better job training to support the young.

Transitional Community Services, a charity launched this year to assist at-risk young men, said that increased employability would minimise the danger of the group turning to crime.

Tiffanne Thomas, the executive director, added: “We look forward to hearing more about this initiative and stand ready to collaborate.”

Martha Dismont, of the charity support firm Catalyst Consulting, was pleased by the speech.

Ms Dismont told Hamilton Rotary Club earlier this week that the island’s problems with violence could be traced to disadvantages.

She said yesterday that the Government had a role to play, but that the public also had to step up.

Ms Dismont added: “Parents need to be guided to the proper support and accountability. Organisations must have the effective infrastructure to carry out their remits. The population themselves must be guided and supported with programmes, counselling for historical trauma, and skill training leading them to dignity, a sense of self-worth and independent functioning.”

She added: “I pray that the Government finds its way to carry out the commitments made.”

Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of Education, criticised a lack of statistics that could show what kinds of jobs could be found for the young.

He said: “The first issue we have, and we’ve been asking for it for quite some time, is you need data on the jobs that are available and the jobs that are going to be available.”

The Throne Speech also promised to get the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to build new homes in more deprived areas of the island.

But Cole Simons, the Opposition leader, asked: “Again, the question becomes, what is the plan?

“Are they going to gentrify some of the more challenged properties in Hamilton?”

Mr Simons said there was legislation already in place for mixed-use properties, which allowed buildings to combine residential and commercial use.

But the BEDC housing plan got a fail grade from another charity.

Habitat for Humanity Bermuda, set up to provide affordable housing, said it was “a reiteration of previous Throne Speech platitudes”.

The speech also pledged to modernise the legislation that created the BEDC, which is now more than 40 years old.

Hamilton’s economic empowerment zone – an area defined to be in need of economic revitalisation – is to be extended into the city’s northeast.

A plan for the area is to go before MPs in the new session of the House of Assembly.

The Throne Speech said the BEDC would also be tasked with housing development in the EEZs.

Sheelagh Cooper, the chairwoman of Habitat for Humanity, said: “It appears that there is a recognition of the dismal lack of affordable housing but the specifics as to how address the problem are missing.”

Ms Cooper added: “There is a direct relationship between the stress of poverty, homelessness and lack of opportunity and the current escalating trend towards violent and predatory behaviour.

“The Bermuda Housing Corporation has been grossly underfunded for years and has a capacity that is about 50 per cent short of the real need.

“I think the BEDC does a great job. But I fail to see how shifting the responsibility for addressing the affordable housing shortage to them, rather than the agency whose mandate that is, solves the problem.”

The ruling Progressive Labour Party suggested just before last October’s General Election that construction workers for new housing in Hamilton could be trained through the youth employment strategy.

Ms Cooper said her charity employed at-risk people to build and renovate homes under its mandate to address the crisis.

She added: “We are open to any scheme which would subsidise the salaries of these young men and women so that we could expand the number that we reach, while at the same time increasing our capacity to add to the housing stock.”

Ms Cooper highlighted the completion of the Transformational Living Centre for ten homeless families as an example of what could be achieved.

The housing centre on North Street, Pembroke, a joint effort involving Habitat for Humanity and its partners and the Women’s Resource Centre, was completed for under $1 million.

Ms Cooper said: “With government support, this approach can be replicated in various locations throughout the island.

“This is money well spent and provides work and training opportunities for those whose opportunities up to now have been marginal.”

This story originally attributed statements from Ben Smith, education shadow minister, to shadow economic development minister Marcus Jones. It has been corrected.