Utilize young Bermuda talent

Along those lines - rather than start a new forum chain - I would like to make the following suggestion. Many students return home in the summer from university and take on seasonal work in tourism industries to help support their education. Most of these students would have been starting employment in April and May with others joining from Bermuda College and Bermuda high schools. Many of these students are employed each year by Dockyard businesses who have had to close. Dockyard as a destination in whole has not yet recovered from the damages caused by Hurricane Humberto just 6 months ago. I have passed along the suggestion to the BTA, Wedco and the Dockyard community that we need to utilize this time wisely to clean up, repair, elevate our product individually and collectively to return to a level of safety, cleanliness and standards that should be expected. As individual business owners take on the challenge of regenerating an income and restarting their businesses - perhaps the larger community who are not working and being supported through financial assistance can contribute to this community endeavour. This could include the large student population who could be tasked with volunteering x number of hours a week in exchange for a stipend similar to the youth summer employment placement program annually offered through Community and Cultural Affairs (should funding be available). This will not only provide them with a small income (which in turn is saved for further education and also finds its way back into the economy through purchases such as food, utilities and services) but this will also give them a sense of purpose and direction for the summer - one that supports the businesses that normally employ them so as to create a sustainable system that ensures the employers can return to business and rehire them once again when able. This is the guidance I have already provided my son - an expectation that he will in turn volunteer his time to help his employer where needed such as maintenance, once Shelter in Place has been lifted and he is able to contribute. Thank you for considering.