A United Bermuda Party political event last night wowed a friendly crowd with spirited speeches and election year promises, as Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert made his case for 'healing the nation'.

Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell and Party chairman Shawn Crockwell (pictured) were also featured speakers for the highly publicised event.

Although Mr. Furbert's headline speech was met with loud applause, Mr. Crockwell's address seemed to dazzle the audience as he was interrupted repeatedly with not only applause, but emphatic cheers.

His message that Government leaders were infringing on personal freedoms resonated with the crowd.

Mr. Crockwell said: "In Bermuda today... rights to speak freely are under threat.

"I do not know if it is by design but what I do know is that it is happening.

"It might be due to the attitude of PLP Government ministers who think they are more important than the people who elected them.

"It might be the result of MPs and ministers who think the rules do not apply to them.

"It might even be because members of this PLP Government feel they are politically unbeatable and therefore no longer accountable.

"Whatever the case, in the face of these infringements and the general air of intimidation now spreading across the Island, I draw strength from the fact that there is a body of people who see what is going on and who, like me, know it is wrong."

In his speech Mr. Crockwell mentioned specifically Minister Derrick Burgess, MP George Scott, and Government's leader in the Senate Minister David Burch.

He said he was not afraid of any of them which very nearly brought the crowd to its feet.

The auditorium at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute was completely full with around 200 attendees and there was a secondary audience able to listen live on the radio.

Mr. Furbert's speech also attacked Government leaders, but more subtly.

He said: "Will we be about a personality cult and intimidation or will we be about free speech and other democratic ideals?

"I put it to you these are the choices facing Bermuda today."

However the main theme of Mr. Furbert's 30-minute address had to do with race relations. He referred to it as healing the nation and warned that the current Government was "regressing" in the area of racial harmony.

He said: "A few years ago my colleague, Dr. Grant Gibbons, said there was 'unfinished business' in Bermuda when it came to the matter of race. I agree. We need to finish this unfinished business."

Mr. Furbert also made mention of a race relations workshop which ended Tuesday.

He said: "We welcome the Government's race summit.

"It represents a start, but again we call upon the PLP to sign a code of conduct between all Parliamentarians to ensure that no Member of Parliament uses racial slurs and encourages party members to follow suit. This simple act will go a long way to improving race relations."

The Opposition Leader also told the mostly white in-person crowd that there was a need for racial equality in all local institutions, especially education.

Mr. Darrell talked exclusively about education during his address. He argued an improved education system was the best path toward economic empowerment.

Crockwell raises UBP spirits