A raft of measures to give people powers of greater scrutiny over the Government they elect have been pledged by the UBP.

Parliamentary committee meetings will be open to the press and public while direct questioning of Government ministers will be instigated in the House of Assembly.

The Premier or Deputy Premier and other Ministers will also open themselves up for a weekly grilling by the Press.

The public will be able to petition the House and set down items for debate while a petition by 20 percent of voters will trigger a referendum.

A freedom of information act to give the public a right to information is a priority item according to the manifesto while a whistleblower's act would allow public servants to speak out without fear.

The Auditor General's office will be strengthened with more resources while the opportunity for political interference in the criminal justice system will be reduced by restoring a non-political Attorney General.

The party plans to introduce an integrity commission to set minimum standards for disclosure by parliamentarians of financial dealings and to define corrupt practices by parliamentarians and civil servants.

MPs will adopt a code of conduct and will also be subject to random drug testing.

The UBP are keen to eliminate wasteful spending within Government.

The civil service will be reduced to an unspecified target through attrition and consultant fees — which now stand at $68 million — will also be slashed.

Ministerial salaries will be lowered by 20 percent while ministerial travel will be cut by at least 25 percent. Ministers spending while abroad will also be curbed and the number of GP cars will be reduced.

Deputy leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the UBP would have a new approach to dealing with public officials.

She said: "Our civil servants are deeply frustrated by the way they are micro-managed by PLP ministers who clearly don't trust them to do the job.

"Many have left in protest or have been dismissed under separation agreements that force silence.

"We have a fine team of civil servants and the next United Bermuda Party will let them get on with their jobs, amid a climate of respect for their professionalism and of their right for union representation, with good faith negotiations on their contracts."