yesterday by calling the election "one of the most competitive and challenging'' the Country had seen.

Bermuda now faced moves towards a global market, and its location gave it less protection from rivals than in the past.

In tourism, the challenge was to avoid diluting the Island's product and trying to spread its appeal too wide.

Bermuda had to stay a "niche market'' and differentiate itself from other islands. Service had to be improved.

He also wanted to see a direct flight from continental Europe, maybe from Frankfurt.

Everyone needed to understand the industry's need to invest despite high costs and low profits.

"The average hotel is making far, far less, if anything, than any individual can make by putting their $100 in the bank.'' As for international business, the Island had to continue to welcome quality companies. The industry needed to explain itself more to Bermudians, so they understood how important it was and how easily it could disappear.

Sen. Winfield said there was a difference in UBP and PLP policies. There was general agreement that the economic pie had to be shared out more, but the PLP had not said much about how the pie was going to grow.

"If we really are to move the wealth of this Country further throughout Bermuda, we do not do that by dividing an existing pie.

"That's going to cause resentment. The majority of our efforts have to be made in increasing the economic base so we can produce more pieces for more people.'' On the issue of what to do with the Base land, Government had to look at the Island's needs, not necessarily its wishlist, and how to increase revenue.

On social issues, Sen. Winfield said Bermuda had come a long way in 25 years, but real barriers still existed. People with training, skills and dedication had hit these barriers because of their colour, gender, political allegiance and where they came from.

"If Bermuda is to really evolve, is truly to be able to raise its head in pride in the wider community, these false, irrelevant, insignificant reasons for lack of progress must be removed.'' He praised the record of Belco, Telco, Cable & Wireless and Government in removing barriers.

He said while Government believed in including the public in decision-making through committees and task forces, it seemed Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade was against them.

Government was also changing, becoming more accountable. Departments would soon make official pledges of the services they would achieve.

The alternative to higher taxes and borrowing suggested by the PLP was to make Government more efficient.

New Opposition Senate leader Sen. Milton Scott said fewer than 150 votes had kept the PLP from forming the new Government.

He said a PLP Government's Throne Speech would have included plans to cut unemployment, which was still "quite high'', and get realistic figures on the problem.

It was heartening to see Government adopting PLP proposals like a review of drug distribution to the elderly and a youth corps.

He denied accusations that the party did not support the National Drug Strategy.

He criticised Government for not mentioning the national stadium in the Throne Speech. It was still in a deplorable state and young people deserved better.

If the PLP was in power it would make better use of the labour advisory council to improve industrial relations, Sen. Scott added.

A PLP Government would have tried to restore the economy to its pre-recession state and moved to develop a "far more equitable tax system''. It would not just have "gone around setting up task forces''.

Other PLP measures would have included an international business ministry, an overhaul of social and housing assistance, a contributory unemployment insurance plan, a review of the fish-pot ban, twice-weekly garbage collection and lighting for private roads.

Bermuda also needed a new system of voter registration, electoral reform, and more power for parish councils, which should be elected.

On race, the Opposition wanted to see real action, not another task force. The subject of race relations needed to be separated from the human rights commission.

Sen. Scott recalled that when he got a job in public education 14 years ago he was interviewed by Sen. Norma Astwood . She had told him the education act was being re-structured.

It was still being re-structured now, he said, and it seemed the ray of hope for reorganisation was gradually flickering out.

He said tourism could be boosted with tax incentives, more promotion for smaller properties and group business, and better marketing in Europe.

The PLP was concerned about reductions in the Police force, and Government's failure to implement a new protection of children act and Tumim proposals on Police and the courts.

He said prison officers had been told senior staff would come from the ranks, but now it seemed from job descriptions that they would be prevented from rising in the service.

The party was also worried about care of the elderly and the lack of mention in the Throne Speech of reducing the age of majority.

New UBP member Sen. Grant Gibbons said the PLP had wanted Bermudians to vote for them as a symbol of black leadership. However important that symbol might be, it was not a substitute for a good track record, pragmatism, performance and ability.

Financial statements in Mr. Wade's Throne Speech reply were also short on substance, he said.

The PLP was a party of the past and its manifesto had looked back to past policy statements.

Dr. Gibbons said Bermuda was now benefiting from a recovering tourist industry, a continuing reputation for quality international business, improving retail business and low inflation.

Government was investing in the future through education. It had set up a $2 million foundation to guarantee students loans and had revived the apprenticeship and training programme.

It was working to get rid of "institutional discrimination'', which was morally right as well as practical, because the Country needed able people to get to the top.

When people broke through the glass ceiling they should do so on merit, training and ability, he added, not because Government put them there.

Government intended to keep revenue on the basis of consumption taxes, while "avoiding'' income tax. It would review the tax system and make it fairer.

"To those who say they are the Government in waiting -- please don't hold your breath, it's going to be longer than five years.'' New Independent member Sen. Alf Oughton said many Bermudians had survived the recession but others had seen their living standards decline. For some the decline was continuing.

On institutionalised racism, he said, it was better to have the subject out in the open. It had apparently been avoided for a long time.

The new Human Affairs Ministry was a step in the right direction. He regretted the lack of references to labour relations in the Throne Speech. The labour advisory council had been totally ineffective.

"If Bermuda fails to come to grips with its labour problems then it's going to be in a lot of trouble in trying to achieve its targets in other areas.'' Many people lost opportunities because of the decline in vocational training, he said. He welcomed a new emphasis on training.

On new clean air rules, the retiring Belco chief said: "Given time it will be possible to meet these regulations, but we must not lose sight of the need to balance environmental protection with economic reality.'' He said St. George's might need its own version of Wedco. Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind) said she had studied the architectural drawings which formed the background in the UBP's blueprint leaflet.

She noted a garbage "compactor room'' was drawn in at the top. "I would hope that the public is not bound for the compactor room,'' she said.

She regretted that Bermuda was unable to sign important documents like the UN convention on discrimination against women because it was still a colony.

She hoped the recession had reminded Bermudians to value people for themselves, and not to concentrate purely on material things.

When the US Navy moved out it might be a chance to set up a local industry producing crafted souvenirs, she added.

She was grateful for the Premier's efforts abroad on the Base. But she was distressed to see that women had not been given their own ministry or department.

She wanted to know how many people would be treated by the proposed new drug rehabilitation centre, and if "local drug plantations'' were still in business.

She condemned media reports of the street value of imported drugs. The cost to the Country outweighed the drug's price, she said.

Sen. Astwood said civil servants were baffled when Government reversed policies -- for example, reducing Police numbers and then saying it would review the force's resources to see if they were adequate.

Resuming after lunch, Sen. Astwood said parish councils could do important work in Bermuda, but the lack of full-time paid administrators in many parishes was a problem.

Each parish should have at least one staff member, some might need more, and a training officer would help assure parish council members were familiar with the Parish Council Act.

Noting that Government had promised to include young people in running the country through youth summits and media, Sen. Astwood said she also hoped young people would be taught how Government worked.

Moving to the Town of St. George, Sen. Astwood said residents there felt "tremendously neglected,'' and she hoped work started soon on a cruise ship terminal for the dedicated ship. Otherwise, "the ship will be crossing the Atlantic, and the dock will not have been completed.'' Debate will be continued on tomorrow's newspaper.