This summer I had the privilege of sharing an evening with a group of young Bermudians at the Youth and Politics Forum hosted by the National Youth Council.

It was a truly enriching experience, it was also a distressing one for me.

I was enriched by the purposefulness, the spirit, the passion, and the obvious intellect of the young women and young men in the New Hall Lecture Theatre; but I was distressed that there was a pervasive view among them, that however hard they worked, however arduously they studied, however strikingly they were to shine in their exams, the deck, in Bermuda, would still be stacked against them.

These young Bermudians gave eloquent, moving, and memorable expression to concerns which are shared; concerns which, in fact, have been the life experience of many of the generation before them.

I remember their voices.

I remember their concerns.

And I regret the sense of despondency which, in spite of their spirit, their passion and their great potential, could so easily defeat them.

These sentiments have been with me throughout the General Election campaign.

My resolve to rescue our country and secure a future for all young Bermudians was renewed that evening in August.

My resolve was further strengthened on Wednesday, through my experience with Bermuda College students at a Forum hosted by the Student Government.

There, I saw excitement, optimism and confidence in the prospect of their future under a PLP Government.

Their attitude was a complete contrast to the stories they related to me afterward as they talked about current problems and expressed their concerns.

During this campaign I have heard UBP spokespersons recycling their elitist assertions that only "they'' can govern Bermuda. That only within their ranks can the qualifications it takes to govern Bermuda be found.

That attitude completely writes off the immense intellectual capital with which this small island is blessed. The intellectual capital I found both at that earlier youth forum and at Wednesday's College rally.

In coded statements, that are calculatedly patronising and disparaging, the UBP network continues to promote the elitist position that everyone but them, lacks the ability, or experience, to deal with international entities.

You may have noticed how the Republicans in the United States continue to portray Democrats as a "tax and spend'' danger and the enemies of business, who would ruin the economy.

The reality, however, is that business was never better in America, the business community appears to be happy with the President and Tuesday's Election results tell the story.

There are lessons in all of that for Bermuda.

There are parallels with the British Labour Party, and their crushing defeat of the Conservatives, last year.

Prior to their general election, the Conservatives warned that "Labour could not run the country.'' Lessons in that, too, for Bermuda.

The Progressive Labour Party has already announced the establishment of a national Tri-Partite Commission that will embrace business, both local and international, and labour as partners to government in all matters of economic and social policy planning and implementation.

Through such consultative, participatory process, we will ensure a better Bermuda for all Bermudians, in all sectors of the economy; and in education and training.

These are the reasons young Bermudians now have faith in their future.

Fellow Bermudians, on this, the eve of the culmination of the 1998 General Election campaign, I want to thank you for the support, encouragement, assistance and outpouring of love that you have showered on the PLP, myself and our candidates.

The PLP team are good people.

They are talented people.

I know of no political party anywhere that has presented a slate of candidates better qualified, and with greater depth of relevant skills than are to be found in the team which I have the honour to lead.

In their hands, Bermuda will be in good hands.

In our hands, all that you have worked for will be respected, and we will work to add value to those things you cherish.

In the competent and caring hands of our team, all that you hope for will be carefully cultivated.

I ask you to give us the opportunity to work with you for the Bermuda you want.

A new Bermuda after Monday.

A new Bermuda inclusive of all Bermudians, and indeed all stakeholders with an investment in our country.

None will be excluded.

I believe that should you give the Progressive Labour Party the mandate to govern our beloved country, the outgoing government will give full cooperative in ensuring a smooth transition.

Finally, I thank you for your prayers and ask for your continued prayers for God's blessing as we go to the Polls today.

Thank you.