United Bermuda Party (UBP) supporters were urged to become "transformers" or agents of change, and not to hold on to the past, by the keynote speaker at the party's annual banquet this weekend.

Cindy Trimm, a former UBP Senator who now works in the United States as a consultant and a motivational speaker told her audience that making a difference meant that "you cannot do today's job, by using yesterday's methods. And you cannot be in business tomorrow by using yesterday's' strategies."

"Yesterday is in the tomb, tomorrow is in the womb and today is in full bloom," Dr. Trimm said. "We must not only embrace change, we must make a change. In fact... we must become the change agent."

She added: "I'm here to announce that now the game of spectatorship and commentatorship is over. We need people to get out of the grandstand and to cry out `I want the ball, I want to play and the next move is mine'."

Touching on leadership qualities, she said "the first task of leadership is to keep hope alive. And the second task is to present a vision. And without a vision, I said, people perish. And we have got enough things perishing without us adding insult to injury."

Dr. Trimm told her audience that life will give back what is put into it. "And so I say to you, if you don't like what Bermuda is screaming back at you, change what you say to Bermuda. Change what you were doing. Why? Because they will echo back to you what you give it. Life is not about coincidence, it's only a reflection of what we give it," she said.

"And if you want a better Government. If you don't like what life is screaming back at you, vote. Vote and you become the voice."

The annual banquet, which was filled with fanfare and entertainment, ended with onstage fireworks and by all accounts was the party's slickest and glitziest yet.

New candidates Jon Brunson, Gwyneth Rawlins, Senator Neville Darrell and Scott Hunter gave their debut speeches to the party faithful Saturday night at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel.

"I know you recognise their sincerity and commitment to doing the right thing right," said party leader Grant Gibbons in his remarks. He promised that "more outstanding" candidates will be introduced in the future.

"When you combine their ability and enthusiasm with the proven leadership skills of our experienced members, you get a new UBP team that is absolutely capable of winning the government, running the government and, most important, providing all Bermudians with the good government this country so desperately needs right now.

He added: " The new UBP does not seek power for power's sake. We are not interested in settling scores or lining our pockets. We do not have a secret agenda that calls for rewarding a select few and forgetting about the rest. The new UBP believes the real goal is to provide government based on mutual respect, fairness, integrity and openness. The real goal is to make sure every Bermudian enjoys full participation in the social and economic mainstream of this wonderful country. The real goal is to develop practical and progressive social and economic policies that turn talk into action. I am absolutely confident that the new UBP is the best team to get the job done and to get it done right. There is nothing like being placed in Opposition by the people to force a party to look closely and critically at itself. That's why we are scrupulous about making sure we understand the needs of all Bermudians."

He said the UBP was having a "constructive conversation" with the country while the "Smith Government hides behind a veil of secrecy and silence".

"While the Smith government is busy blaming others for their own shortcomings, we learn from the past and find a better way forward. While the Smith government is mired in the muck of scandal, we are developing practical solutions to the problems we face. While the Smith government is fighting yesterday's battles, we are planning a future for Bermuda that includes everyone."

And he accused Government of " running away from their record" in the face of questions over the Berkeley construction project.

"Using a calculated combination of misinformation, divisive racial rhetoric, threats and intimidation, senior members of Government, including the Premier, set out to divert attention from the sorry evidence of their four failed years in office," Dr. Gibbons said.

"These attacks were base appeals to the worst side of human nature... We're here to tell them that they can run but they can't hide. When they deliberately distort the facts, we will set them straight."