Opposition leader Marc Bean has issued a withering attack on Government’s track record and its plans for the coming year.

Delivering the Progressive Labour Party’s Throne Speech Reply in the House of Assembly this afternoon, Mr Bean said that his party had been willing to support the One Bermuda Alliance Government and had backed “the overwhelming majority” of bills brought to the House so far.

And he listed a number of Government proposals unveiled in last week’s Throne Speech that the Opposition was willing to support.

But he then went on the attack, accusing the Government of being “devoid of ideas” on how to get Bermudians back to work and that the promised “trickle-down” had not materialised.

And he also condemned plans to give status to non-Bermudians born on the Island, claiming that it was “political sorcery” by the OBA to strengthen its support base.

“They are pushing an agenda that benefits one Bermuda and leaves everyone else behind,” Mr Bean said.

“They are pushing an agenda that elevates and embraces one Bermuda while everyone else is shoved under the bus. Bermudians are watching and they see a disconnect between the OBA’s words and reality.”

Mr Bean said that the PLP had a “vision” in which no one was left behind and in which Bermudians were placed “at the centre and not on the sidelines”.

“Bermudians come first in our vision, first in our plan and the first to benefit — it is time for Bermudians to become the masters of our own destiny,” he said.

He said that, while the OBA was focused on attracting international business to Bermuda, the PLP recognised that it was important to “roll out the red carpet” for local entrepreneurs, through tax breaks and access to capital.

He called for agreements with Bermuda’s CARICOM partners to allow reciprocal movement of hospitality workers during the off season, allowing Bermudian workers to gain employment and experience during the off season.

Mr Bean said that the PLP would diversify the economy to create “more jobs for Bermudians, more opportunities for service providers and a movement away from our one-and-a-half-legged economic structure”, adding that the party would develop the exclusive economic zone for seabed mining.

He called for the freeing up of regulations to attract foreign investment, and to expand the local banks to “put an end to the predatory banking sector”.

Other recommendations put forward by Mr Bean include developing the Bermuda College initially to a university college and eventually as a full university, more youth apprenticeship schemes, and the implementation of the PLP’s job corps programme.

And he also called for the abolition of middle schools.

“While some choose to blame teachers, countries across the world are discovering the flaws in the middle school system,” he said, adding that the schools create “conditions that strengthen gangs”.

Mr Bean called for greater autonomy for school principals, and the creation of school councils to strengthen and enhance parental and community involvement.

“The PLP proposes lowering the school entrance age to four, enabling our young people to get ahead, and working in concert with the US and Canada to lengthen existing teacher training visas.

In tackling poverty, Mr Bean called for a two-year freeze on all Government fees and taxes that contribute to the high cost of living, plus duty relief on food imports.

He said that tougher penalties should be imposed on businesses that violate the Human Rights Act, including naming and shaming of offenders.

And he said companies that break immigration laws should get a three-year ban on work permits, while Government should increase the number of immigration enforcement officers.

“$5,000 is no real deterrent to vulture-like business persons who are more interested in profits than Bermudian job creation,” Mr Bean said.

He also called for the creation of a National Lottery to fund local clubs and cultivate community spirit.

And he said that a new PLP Government would set up a Revenue and Government Earnings Commission — or RAGE — to explore ways of increasing GDP, modernise Bermuda’s tax model and maximise Government earnings.