platform to back his solo campaign in Pembroke West.

And Mr. Perinchief backed the introduction of income tax and the abolition of Bermuda's twin-seat constituencies and Westminster-style "first past the post'' system of picking a Government.

Mr. Perinchief said Bermudians are already taxed on everything from food to rent.

He added: "You're further taxed by the high cost of living in Bermuda, made so because the merchants, the landlords and the Government pass on all taxes to the consumer whether they are poor or rich.

"Because the rich are better financially able to pay for these consumption taxes they pay proportionally less than the poor, who struggle to make ends meet and cannot afford to pay.'' But he added: "A proportionate and progressive taxation system will tax income according to a person's ability to pay.

"That is, if a person is poor or near poor, he or she will pay no taxes at all.'' Mr. Perinchief's platform added that cash raised from taxing the rich would be used to finance support for the poorer sections of society to help them "achieve a healthy lifestyle.'' He said: "Only the rich benefit from the present system. The PLP should have explained this to the people a very long time ago.

"The UBP, a party which is fundamentally run by the rich for the rich, will selfishly resist taxes on the huge profits and investments they enjoy.'' Mr. Perinchief also backed a guaranteed minimum wage based on a poverty line -- "an economic measuring stick'' -- to ensure all Bermudians can afford "the necessities of life.'' He added that the poverty line ought to be set between $36,000 and $40,000 a year or $700-800 a week.

And he said the poorest senior citizens should be paid $40,000 a year on an "as need basis.'' Pro-Independence Mr. Perinchief also called for radical reform of the electoral system, with proportional representation to better reflect the views of the Country -- and fewer MPs.

He said: "The present system favours the two biggest political parties and strangles the minority or conflicting view.

"Additionally, boundary changes, gerrymandering and other other undemocratic practices such as annual registration and `snap-call' elections ought to be abolished.'' He said three voting districts -- East, West and Central -- should be introduced with five MPs returned from each.

Mr. Perinchief also backed the retention of the 60/40 rule to protect Bermuda from wholesale foreign takeover.

He warned that loosening off controls was a tactic by "the traditional business monopolies'' to protect themselves against "emerging competitors''.

But Mr. Perinchief said: "The danger is that in seeking short-term supremacy, these proponents of abolishing the 60/40 rule are opening our society to a wholesale and friendly -- and perhaps not so friendly -- takeover of what's left of the life-blood of our economy by non-Bermudians.'' And he added that Bermuda being forced through Britain into a Euro-alliance would be "the death knell'' for the Island.

TAXES TAX INDEPENDENCE IND