yesterday promised by the PLP.

The party's Health and Family Services spokeswoman Renee Webb said paternity leave for dads-to-be would "give fathers the opportunity to be with their children and their wives in the time immediately after delivery.'' She added: "The family unit will be greatly strengthened.'' And Ms Webb said: "We expect that private sector employees will follow the Progressive Labour Party lead in this to further the PLP's vision of a new Bermuda.'' Ms Webb added that the PLP would also establish "a truly comprehensive system of health care'' in the private and public sector, but using "greater competition and reducing the spiralling cost of health care on the Island.'' And she promised the PLP would "commission an in-depth study into the full requirements of the rapidly-growing segment of the elderly in our population.'' Ms Webb said a future PLP Government would try to keep as many elderly people in the workforce as possible. She added that encouragement would be given to both state and private health care providers to make sure home care for the elderly was a viable option.

Ms Webb said: "We will also encourage the development of co-operative living, half-way house facilities for those who need some support services but are not disabled.'' Also included in the PLP plans are: Substance abuse awareness sessions in schools; and Creating a residential treatment centre for drug addicts.

Ms Webb admitted many of the planks of the PLP programme were already in the United Bermuda Party's plans.

But she said: "They have been saying it, but they haven't been doing it.'' Youth and Sport spokesman Nelson Bascome said affordable housing was "a long-term investment in the fabric of family life.'' And he said a PLP Government would encourage "as many people as possible to become home owners.'' He added that there were a lot of derelict houses, plus disused ones on the old Base lands.

Mr. Bascome said the PLP would also seek to establish 30 to 40 year mortgages provided by the Bermuda Housing Corporation. And he dismissed problems with longer-term mortgages, including much-increased interest payments being a higher risk to lenders.

Mr. Bascome said: "Five years on and 15 years at maximum, I can't see the interest rates changing that drastically or being more costly to the Country.

"And it will benefit the low income home owner.'' The Progressive Labour Party announced yesterday it had asked religious leaders to dedicate the weekend as National Days of Prayer.

The party has asked ministers and worshippers to "be mindful of the importance of the General Election''.

It has also asked that all "pray for God's guidance'' for the Bermudian people and all prospective leaders of the country.

The PLP said the power of prayer was the first step in "re-building our country''.