To His Honour the Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

Mr. Speaker,

The 2002 Throne Speech begins with an interesting quote on good government, a matter of serious concern to most Bermudians today. The words come from Thomas Jefferson, who tells us people will be happy and prosperous with a limited government that taxes reluctantly and spends little. We found this particular quote to be a curious choice for the tax-and-spend Smith Government.

It was also Jefferson who wrote the inspirational words of the Declaration of Independence. Yet the Thomas Jefferson who declared that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights was the same Thomas Jefferson who was a lifelong slave owner.

Jefferson's thrilling words about the moral foundations of a free and just society were conveniently disregarded in his personal life. He was a man who, in this century, might be accused of talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Perhaps the real lesson to be learned from Jefferson is that lofty words sometimes have little to do with real-world behaviour and choices. Four years ago, the Smith Government inspired many people in our Country with their words about a "new" Bermuda. But the "new" Bermuda they promised never arrived. How could it? Their words were persuasive, but their concept of good government was fundamentally flawed. It had more to do with settling scores than serving the people.

Mr. Speaker,

This year's Throne Speech is simply additional evidence that the Smith Government has lost its way and can not deliver. As a legislative plan for this Government's last year in office, it fails to address the most important concerns of the people of this Country. Where is the action plan for emergency and affordable housing? Where is substantial reform of the education system? Where is a commitment to eradicate drug dealing from the top down? Where is the tough stand on violent crime? Where is the plan to make healthcare more affordable for seniors? Where are the bold steps to rebuild tourism? Where is the plan for bottom-up wealth accumulation through economic development? The answer is "Nowhere". This is a feeble Throne Speech from a tired, failed Government completely out of touch with the people.

Mr. Speaker,

Today's United Bermuda Party team represents the rich mix of people that is today's Bermuda. Our racial and cultural diversity means we have ties to all segments of Bermudian society. We are a political melting pot with a common purpose: to see our Country and every person in it prosper. Over the past four years, while the Smith Government was talking, we were listening.

Here's what the people of Bermuda are saying. They're tired of promises and fed up with excuses. They want practical and progressive social and economic policies that serve the many, not a select few. They want to lower the financial burdens that put so much pressure on the lives of ordinary people. They want real equity, real opportunity and real integrity. And they want an honest, open government that walks the walk.

Mr. Speaker,

As we listened to the Throne Speech last week, teachers entered the fifth day of an Island-wide strike, and our labour Government threatened them with arrest. There couldn't have been a more powerful symbol that the education system is not working for our children.

The Throne Speech recommends several initiatives on education. One, parental responsibility legislation, was tabled in this House by the former UBP Government in June, 1998. We don't know why the Smith Government delayed this initiative for over four years, but we agree that parental involvement and responsibility are essential components of a child's education.

We cannot agree, however, with the consolidation of school boards. Today's UBP believes that each school, not the Department of Education, should be the focus of the education system. Consolidation takes us backward, toward greater centralised control and micromanagement. We must move forward, to a new level of success where schools assume more responsibility along with greater accountability. Consolidation may be convenient for the Minister, but it can't be good for our children's education.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will work to reform the education system following three basic principles:

Increased emphasis on the individual student and the role of parents;

Setting higher standards and demanding greater accountability for better results; and

Increased responsibility and flexibility for each school.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Develop the whole child by establishing a specialist team in each school that provides academic, study skills, social and behavioral support to students and their parents;

Increase the opportunities for individual success by requiring that music, art, drama and sports be fully integrated in the curriculum;

Improve performance by setting high academic standards in language, math and science, eliminating social promotion and requiring international accreditation for graduation; and

Provide our children with the choice of a technical education by reestablishing a "Bermuda Tech", which in previous years provided excellent preparation for so many in our community to assume positions of leadership.

Mr. Speaker,

A critical component of secondary education - the Berkeley Senior School project - is a year behind schedule and reportedly millions of dollars over budget. In early October, the Honourable Minister Alex Scott said he would be updating the people "very soon". The Honourable Minister hasn't kept his promise.

The Smith Government should be embarrassed about the unanswered questions surrounding this project: Is there a performance bond in place? If so, who is providing it? Has project management been taken from the original contractor and assumed by Works and Engineering? Have building materials been misappropriated? Why have payments to subcontractors been so slow? What contingency plans have been made for Berkeley students when the project doesn't meet the promised September 2003 opening? Failing to answer these legitimate questions disrespects the people who are paying for this project-the Bermudian taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker,

As we listened to the Throne Speech last week, new allegations of mismanagement at the Bermuda Housing Corporation came to light. This time they involved million-dollar overpayments to contractors at the Perryville condos in Warwick. The houses now stand empty, and the cost to protect the complex is nearly $14,000 per month.

This continuing scandal diverts attention from the fact that the Smith Government has done little to provide housing to those in need. The waiting list for emergency housing has grown substantially since 1998. But don't look to the Throne Speech for new initiatives; housing doesn't rate a mention.

Today's UBP understands that the housing crisis is real and must be addressed on two fronts: availability and affordability. The first priority is meeting the emergency needs of families without adequate housing, and then we must get serious about making housing in Bermuda reasonably affordable - even for the middle class.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Take care of desperate families by aggressively building or renovating housing to meet their needs;

Bring new, creative thinking to bear on the complex problem of availability and affordability by developing a long-term National Housing Strategy in consultation with experts in housing, urban planning and finance;

Clean up the Bermuda Housing Corporation and rethink its role to ensure that it meets the needs of those it is intended to serve; and

Encourage homeownership and help people save more of their money by significantly reducing the death tax on a primary residence.

Mr. Speaker,

In the days surrounding the Throne Speech, a tourist was brutally attacked on Front Street as he walked with his wife and child, a narcotics officer was charged with drug smuggling and young men ran onto the Devonshire Rec field armed with machetes and other weapons. We don't know anyone who feels safer now than they did in 1998, and with good reason.

Today's UBP understands how drugs have devastated our community and how drugs are connected to crime. The temptation of quick, easy money has wasted too many young lives and victimised too many law-abiding citizens. This cannot be allowed to continue.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Make drug interdiction-from the top down-the highest priority; and

Review the mandate of the National Drugs Commission and ensure that government money is directed to programmes and agencies that produce results.

We believe that citizens must respect the law, and the law must respect our citizens. In this regard, legislative amendments to restructure the Police Complaints Authority are welcome but long overdue. Nearly 200 cases are outstanding and must be resolved to ensure public confidence in the police service.

Mr. Speaker,

We can't afford to be reluctant to set high standards for acceptable behaviour from our children, from adults, from politicians and from the Police. We can't afford to be timid about insisting on appropriate consequences when boundaries are crossed. To fight crime effectively, we must strike a better balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Help keep families safer by enacting progressive domestic violence legislation that better coordinates the helping services, Police, hospital and courts and reduces gaps in protection;

Make it clear that life means life by sentencing people convicted of capital crimes to life without parole; and

Give St. George's a Police station.

Mr. Speaker,

This Throne Speech indicates that Bermuda will continue to comply with financial regulations imposed on us from overseas. That's good news, although we wouldn't have expected less. But simply playing by the rules doesn't create new business opportunities, provide new jobs or fuel growth. Managing our economy by treading water just isn't good enough in the 21st century.

Today's UBP recognises that reinvigorating our economy requires a dual approach. We must get tighter control over spending and borrowing and look for ways to reduce the tax burden. We must also get serious about diversification, reduce our dependency on international business and identify new opportunities for growth.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Modernise the way Bermuda manages its economy by creating two separate ministries, one responsible for finance and budgets - similar to the current Ministry of Finance - and another for tourism and economic development.

The new Ministry of Tourism and Economic Development will be dedicated to identifying, nurturing and delivering 21st century economic opportunities to the people of Bermuda. We will work hand in hand with labour, social organisations and the private sector to ensure that new development matches our resources and that the benefits of development are widely distributed in our community.

We will create an advisory board of distinguished and respected professionals in finance, technology, hospitality, and human and environmental resources. These advisors will provide perspective and invaluable advice and broaden Bermuda's global connections.

We will apply the most innovative financial thinking, best management and aggressive promotion to enhance Bermuda's competitiveness, to attract investment to Bermuda and provide new business and career opportunities for all Bermudians. Priority projects will include the development of the Hamilton waterfront, North Hamilton and Baselands properties.

An Office of Economic Empowerment will operate within the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Development. It will provide hands-up assistance to Bermudians with the will to succeed but not the means. It will help provide the tools needed to compete effectively in Bermuda's economy.

This will include:

training for small businesses in how to bid for government contracts;

the creation of economic enterprise zones;

identification of angel investors for start-up businesses in need of capital; and

coordination of existing agencies to cut red tape and bureaucracy.

Mr. Speaker,

The Smith Government has wasted an enormous opportunity for economic development through mismanagement and neglect of our Baselands properties. The BLDC made a promising start and was on the verge of closing an attractive development deal for Morgan's Point in 1998. The Smith Government abandoned that proposal for political reasons, and they have been unsuccessful in closing a deal of their own. Recently, they saddled the people of Bermuda with a shameful, one-sided termination of the US Bases Agreement and a $60 million bill for environmental cleanup.

Mr. Speaker,

The dismal performance of tourism under the Smith Government has pushed Bermuda into recession and created an unhealthy dependency on international business. While problems in tourism are long-standing, the consistent record since 1998 - well before 9/11 - shows a shocking rate of decline and can only be attributed to mismanagement and misguided policies.

During the past four years, the Smith Government spent over $145 million to attract visitors to our Island. During the same period, Bermuda's economy lost over $243 million in visitor spending. For every dollar they spent, they lost two. That's roughly a quarter of a billion dollars we never saw. In the last three years, 1,000 jobs disappeared from the hotel industry.

Given the seriousness of the decline in tourism, the loss of jobs and the damage done to our economy, we expected the Smith Government - and the new Minister - to call a disaster a disaster, reset to zero and roll up their sleeves. Instead, they are "re-branding" Bermuda tourism. We don't need re-branding. This isn't an advertising exercise. We need rebuilding from the ground up.

Today's UBP is committed to taking the politics out of tourism and putting professionals in charge.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Establish a Tourism Authority, directed by a board of hospitality, union and financial professionals, who would be responsible for rebuilding Bermuda tourism, including product development, marketing and a focused airlift strategy. The authority will be accountable to Parliament through the Minister for Tourism and Economic Development.

Mr. Speaker,

As we listened to the Throne Speech, the fee dispute between doctors and insurers raged on. This is not a new problem. The reimbursement system was targeted for reform in the 1998 Arthur Andersen strategic plan for Bermuda's healthcare. The Smith Government has had four years to get it right. They haven't done it, and their inaction has put patients in the middle of an expensive squabble they didn't ask for and have no control over.

What if the Government had acted earlier? The potential savings from redesigning the reimbursement scheme could have been up to $15 million. That's money that could have gone to extend better health benefits to seniors.

Instead, as we see in the Throne Speech, the inaction of the Smith Government has led to heavy-handed legislation that would have been unnecessary if the real problem had been solved. Why is this Government so reluctant to address issues critical to the long-term viability of Bermuda's healthcare system? Without reform, healthcare will grow into an enormous burden for the people of Bermuda in the very near future.

Mr. Speaker,

Today's UBP supports the principle that all persons who are willing and capable should be able to work, regardless of age. However, the language of the Throne Speech was predictably vague about what this actually means in practice.

In Bermuda today, many seniors remain in the workplace because they can't afford to retire. Extending the working years is not a real solution to the serious healthcare, housing, pension and security problems seniors face every day. Our seniors shouldn't have to choose between paying for medicine and paying for food.

Today's UBP believes we must address the structural issues affecting daily life for seniors.

The next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Provide seniors with better legal protection by prohibiting age discrimination in our Human Rights Legislation;

Address the gaps in healthcare for seniors by aggressively pursuing healthcare and insurance reform; and

Ensure that the National Housing Strategy addresses the specialized housing needs of our growing elderly population, including assisted living facilities.

Mr. Speaker,

Today's UBP doesn't rely on Jefferson to define good government. Our definition is homegrown. It comes from the expressed desire of the good people of Bermuda for a government they can trust to act in the best interests of all.

Today's UBP stands for good government based on mutual respect, fairness, integrity and openness. To embed our core values in public life and renew our people's faith in government, the next United Bermuda Party Government will:

Guarantee public access to public information through a Freedom of Information Act;

Uphold the right of people to speak out without fear through a Whistleblower's Act;

Give the public greater access to parliamentary business by opening committee meetings to the public;

Encourage full participation in elections through a system of absentee ballots;

Guarantee equal access to government contracts by requiring open tendering in every department; and

Reduce the opportunity for political interference in our justice system by re-establishing a nonpolitical office of Attorney General.

Mr. Speaker,

The record of the Smith Government since 1998 has disappointed many. Those seeking inspiration in this Throne Speech won't find it. It appears that the Smith Government will end its last year in office with a whimper, not a bang.

The men and women of today's United Bermuda Party believe there is a better way for our country. We want to reverse the tide of divisiveness and create one Bermuda for the 21st century. One Bermuda, united by shared values that give shape and direction to our community and rise above racial and cultural differences.

These values include a commitment to democracy, to our constitution and to tolerance. They include a belief that, given equal opportunity, success in life is determined by hard work and taking responsibility. They include an understanding that all citizens must respect the law and the law must respect all citizens. They include a duty to care for each other. And they include a belief that our government should operate with integrity to serve the many, not a select few.

If we agree on these fundamentals, our country can tackle challenges with common purpose and the strength that comes from unity. The complex problems of race and equity are not easily solved. But making sure each Bermudian enjoys full social and economic participation in the mainstream of Bermudian life is the great challenge for our country now and the highest priority for today's UBP.

We believe that our combined skills, resources and different life experiences bring substance and sensitivity, creativity and compassion, to the never-ending task of ensuring social justice and economic opportunity for every Bermudian.

Mr. Speaker,

I would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work and thoughtful contributions to our vision for a better Bermuda in the 21st century. Every one of us on the United Bermuda Party team commits-with our heads, our hands and our hearts-to giving all the people of Bermuda a government they can trust to provide real equity, real economic progress and real integrity.