Ruling party backbenchers Wayne Perinchief and Delaey Robinson, in their contribution to Friday's debate on economic empowerment agreed with their party's intention to bring about economic empowerment for previously excluded groups.

Mr. Perinchief argued that the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Government has a mandate to bring about economic parity.

And Mr. Robinson repeated his arguments last week that the Opposition were now “talking the talk” but were incapable of “walking the walk”.

“As responsible legislators we can legislate and we can be open about what we are trying to do,” said Mr. Perinchief. “I think what the Opposition is trying to say is that they don't like the way we are doing it and the way we are saying it.”

He said he had not heard Tourism and Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb's original speech which had caused some controversy but agreed with her comments “if she's saying that we must try to bring about parity... and economic justice, to open up opportunities for people who heretofore did not have opportunity and not to the exclusion of others.”

He added that to establish the means and methods of changing “the dynamics of power” a fair amount of brainstorming should be done.

“Let's talk about the Small Business Corporation... easier acquired mortgages. I agree wholeheartedly with trying to bring about economic parity. And it's not about taking from, or disenfranchising any other group, it's a matter of reality. If people have had over 400 years jumpstart, certainly those who are left behind deserve efforts, systems to catch up. Nobody should begrudge us that.”

There are still people “who are taking advantage of white privilege in Bermuda,” said Mr. Robinson. “And it is clear that those people are not sitting on the Government benches... The same mistake is being made by the Loyal Opposition when they say that the Government and the Opposition are together on this measure. We are not together. We can deliver and they cannot deliver, because as long as they take advantage of privilege that is unearned they cannot possibly make moves in the right direction on this issue.”

He added: “As long as these people live in the glass house of promises of parity between the races whilst they still take advantages that black people in Bermuda cannot take, then I don't think they have any chance of really coming to the table with real measures of dealing with this issue.”

He said that the Opposition had not demonstrated that they can deliver. “We don't believe they can do it because we don't believe they have the moral fibre to actually come to the wicket on this.”