Opposition Leader Frederick Wade set out a Progressive Labour Party legislative agenda on Friday as he described Government's Throne Speech as "remarkable...for its omissions.'' While attacking the Throne Speech on several fronts, Mr. Wade set out 10 promises he said the PLP would fulfil within the life of the current Parliament, if it was the governing party.

They included: Setting up of a substance abuse rehabilitation centre for at least 30 persons; Immediate computerisation of Magistrates' and Supreme Court to speed up trials; Replacement of all Police prosecutors with trained lawyers to put more Police on the street; More money for the Police to allow it to civilianise and increase officers on the street "as quickly as possible; Immediately making Base housing available to low-income families; Setting in train a policy immediately to deal with problems of long-term residents; Establishing a select committee to deal with electoral reform, the franchise, and qualification of MPs; and Changing the plan to relocate Dellwood Primary School to Northlands Secondary School and make Dellwood a middle school.

Mr. Wade said the few solutions presented in the Throne Speech were "old, tired, and failed'' ones.

As an example of its omissions, the Progressive Labour Party leader said it was hard to find a mention of youth in the speech, "unless the increased prison sentences and Westgate programmes are in fact our youth development programmes.'' On improving race relations, Mr. Wade said he recently learned Government had asked Mrs. Shangri-La Durham-Thompson to sit on the new Commission for Unity and Racial Equality before she was recommended by the PLP.

That meant that despite promises of increased consultation, nobody who was solely recommended by the PLP was chosen to sit on CURE, he said.

Referring to an editorial in Friday's The Royal Gazette that called for the resignation of CURE chairman Mr. Michael Mello because of his comment that racism is "not a major problem'' in Bermuda, Mr. Wade said he was in the "untenable position'' of agreeing with the daily newspaper.

Premier David Saul kicked off the Throne Speech debate, which is to continue next Friday.

Dr. Saul said he had made removing the "glass ceiling'' in the workplace his "personal objective.'' He had asked Bermuda's two major banks to give him charts showing their corporate structures and the positions of women and blacks in their organisations, along with projected improvement plans. He said he would table the charts in the House.

"Did you do that with Fidelity?'' asked the PLP's Mrs. Lois Browne Evans, referring to Dr. Saul's employer.

"I believe in practising what I preach,'' he said. "I would be quite prepared...If we start with the biggest employers in Bermuda...this will be done.'' Dr. Saul attacked the "nabobs of negativism'' who were always talking about Bermuda's problems, when in fact, "this Island's getting even better.'' Visitor arrivals were down from last year, but 1994 was the fourth-best year on record, he said. Last year also set a record for registration of offshore companies, he said.

While it was true there was too much crime, alcohol, and drug abuse, and noise, "there is no...deterioration of the standard of living in Bermuda,'' he said.

There was no visitor or guest worker who "would not be prepared to give their index finger to live here forever,'' the Premier said. "It's a tremendous place.'' The Premier revealed that Bermuda was working on a mutual assistance treaty with the United States that would involve sharing of assets to fight drug trafficking.

Mr. Wade noted it was former American Vice-President Spiro Agnew who coined the term "nabobs of negativism.'' He "wound up having to resign in disgrace,'' and "having to go to prison, even, for his behaviour,'' Mr. Wade said. "I hope the Premier doesn't follow in his footsteps.'' Dr. David Dyer said Government's Throne Speech was not intended to be an encyclopaedic treatment of policy. Instead he said it gave a broad outline of Government's intent.

Dr. Dyer said the recent outbreaks of violence in the form of robberies where guns and knives are used has caused members of the public come concern.

Much crime he said was due directly or indirectly to the scourge of drugs in the community.

He said that two years ago Government initiated stricter laws regarding the use of firearms especially when they are used to commit crimes.

And an amnesty was introduced to allow people with guns to hand them in.

However he said that there are some people who are still determined to keep guns which is having a detrimental impact on the community.

"I feel the legislation that we introduced did not go far enough,'' he said.

"We should have had more stringent legislation...but others felt a more gradual approach was better.'' Still, Dr. Dyer said Government's intolerance of handguns and knives has not been received in some segments of the community or if it has been received it has not been understood.

And this does not bode well for the Island.

Dr. Dyer said many single women who were previously enjoying a safe existence have been attacked in their own homes by persons who break in.

Consequently, they have become prisoners in their own homes and they live in fear. Bermuda he said was losing its reputation as a tranquil and calm place and Government needed to "bite the bullet'' and come forward with more determined efforts.

Dr. Dyer said recent moves to improve the Police Force were initially unpopular with some members of the community and petitions were raised and trips conducted to London.

Fortunately he said the PLP's reply to the Throne Speech suggested that they are aware of the crime problem.

Bermuda's tourism industry he said has experienced a downturn since the mid 1980s.

Dr. Dyer said the Island cannot cope with more than 600,000 visitors without bursting at the seams.

Although handbag snatching has declined he said other types of crime is rising such as breaking and enterings in guest's rooms.

This is especially disturbing he said because tourism is the island's lifeblood.

Dr. Dyer said tourism allows money to permeate the economy from the bottom up and allows workers to care for their families.

The backbencher said that Bermuda's problems with legal and illegal drugs are well known and Bermuda's size gives it many advantages.

However this small size also means that the people are related to or know someone who is affected by drugs. Many families know but choose not to deal with that family member.

Dr. Dyer said it was important for families to direct their drug addicted members to help and insist that they accept it.

"Until that happens, he said, "Bermuda will not deal with its drug problem internally. It is not a Government issue because it affects every man, woman and child in the community.'' Dr. Dyer said that the usual PLP response to problems is to throw more money at it or call for more programmes but these things cost money and he was not willing to speculate on the cost for solving all of Bermuda's problems.

He also said that while it was laudable for the PLP to wish more Bermudians to start small businesses, they should not be forced and must understand the realities they are faced with before they take on such ventures.

Dr. Dyer said he has seen many small businesses set up producing similar goods to other businesses and it would be better if market research is conducted first to avoid unnecessary duplication.

"There are no guarantees is small business,'' he warned. "You can get the finance but whether the business succeeds depends on you. You have to put in the man or woman hours.'' Turning to the Government's newly acquired base lands, Dr. Dyer said it was recognised that there is a need to improve the runway lighting, but he questioned whether it was prudent to do it now.

He said much investigation needed to be done at the airport before money is put in.

Dr. Dyer also encouraged local companies to enter partnerships with larger foreign firms working at the airport in 60-40 arrangements.

The backbencher also said that he would like to see more legislation produced to deal with the crime of stalking which has caused many people to complain to Police and private law firms.

The legislation he added would give people a feeling of comfort. Moreover Dr.

Dyer said the position of long term non-Bermudian residents needed to be improved because they have in many cases given 20 or more years to the island and had Bermudian children.

Shadow Youth Development Minister Nelson Bascome said Government lacked initiative when it came to dealing effectively with Bermuda's social ills and it was the result of the differing philosophies of the parties.

He said that the concept of Bermudian hospitality was eroding daily because many of those who serve guests in hotels and restaurants are non Bermudians.

Many of our Island's social woes are linked to institutionalised racism which he said was an entrenched part of our community and infected and affected Bermudians in many ways.

And those infected and affected by racism will react in certain ways.

Mr. Bascome said Human Affairs Minister Jerome Dill had his hands full as he attempts to come up with a solution to stamp out racism in the community.

However Mr. Bascome suggested that Government needed to take a hard look at repatriation as a solution to it.

The Shadow Youth Development Minister asserted that he was a believer in self determination and he always tries to look at all the facets that make an individual act the way they do.

Mr. Bascome said that the solution to Bermuda's social crisis starts with a "return to home base,'' and a return to the values and roles that individuals were meant to play in a family.

He criticised the recently created Ministry of Women's Affairs because he said there were many men who were struggling and both sexes needed to be given equal treatment because separating them did not make sense.

While it was true that many men were not living up to their responsibilities, he said, there were other men who were going the extra mile.

Mr. Bascome said a first step to healing families will be to get individuals who are separated from their families back into the unit so they can be a part of their children's lives.

Ultimately, Mr. Bascome said the leadership needed to come from both sides of Parliament with members returning to their old neighbourhoods and talking to people about their own struggles and how they overcame them.

Such action he said could inspire a child whose only other model of success is a drug dealer.

Bermuda's churches he said also needed to play a roll in the process of building up the family.

Mr. Bascome said the Island's workmen's clubs are decline and have gone from institutions that sponsored student's education to places where alcohol is consumed and little else happens.

These clubs he said needed to be rejuvenated and their history needed to be passed on to young people.

A first step would be to ensure that all those who use the club are fully paid up members. In so doing they would be contributing to the club's redevelopment.

Mr. Bascome said Bermuda was entrenching itself in a community of separatism and that racism was fairly entrenched in the community.

"No way shall we stand there and allow it. The Government has to look at the whole area of education and redevelop the whole process,'' he said.

Mr. Bascome also said union membership had started to decrease and Bermuda needed employment policies to protect the workers. When a person loses their job, it affects the whole family, he said.

"We have to look at protecting these individuals who do not have representation in the workplace.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell , making his first speech as a Minister, explained to the House how he will try and re-build the tourist industry. He said it relied on marketing, tourist appreciation, the product and how to bring all those ingredients together.

But he said the most critical aspect was co-operative participation and people -- Bermudians, the public and private sectors -- had to be brought together to facilitate a new direction for tourism.

On marketing, Mr. Dodwell said he had thrown down a challenge to the advertising agency representing Bermuda to bring the Island's advertising into the 1990's.

"This is not a criticism. We need to put together a programme that wakes up the market place. We then have to have that product we say we are going to market.'' Primarily, the new marketing will focus on the first-time visitor. "We want to get through to the first time visitor and our research shows we can do that. He is calling us and the travel agents, but there is something stopping him finally doing it.'' He said he had also spoken to airlines, travel agents and wholesalers asking them to be involved in the campaign and asking them to show their support with financial backing.

International businesses have agreed to support tourism by sharing information and when business "went on the road'' a tourism representative could go on the trip to promote tourism.

Likewise, when tourism went on the road, a representative from business could also be there, said Mr. Dodwell.

Mr. Dodwell announced good news about airlines saying Midway Airlines would operate next year, Kiwi had agreed to fly from Newark again next year and British Airways was adding a fourth flight.

Negotiations are also underway with American Airlines to fly from Miami to Bermuda, which Mr. Dodwell said could help to open up the South American market.

"They (American Airlines) gave me very positive vibrations. I feel we are closer than ever to securing that particular flight,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

On tourism appreciation, Mr. Dodwell said the Education Ministry had agreed to build tourism into the school's curriculum and a Visitor Industry Partnership was being formed.

Mr. Dodwell said a council of 17 or 18 people will be formed with a small number of employed people to work full-time on initiatives.

He said the Government was putting forward $100,000 to help get the Partnership programme underway and hoped the private sector would at least match that sum.

Mr. Dodwell also suggested that those employed in the tourist industry might donate one dollar towards the programme and that taxi drivers could do the same.

MPs debate Throne Speech From Page 4 "If the private sector is really behind the rebuilding of tourism they will come forward and dig into their pockets. We need the support of everyone in the community,'' he said.

A review of the existing cruise ship policy has been ordered and a committee was being formed to look at issues surrounding the ships and whether Bermuda was catering properly for passengers.

Mr. Dodwell laid to rest rumours that the Dreamward was being replaced by the smaller Leeward, saying he knew of no such plans.

"We believe it is time for action. We have had enough reports. It is time for every man, woman and child to get behind us in rebuilding tourism,'' added the Minister.

In response, Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen said it was important to have full support and financial backing or the ideas would "come to nought''. "We have had a lot of verbiage but we have not had real action.'' He claimed the UBP Government had lost interest in the tourism industry, using the tourists as the "cash cow'' for years. He said the Government was giving top billing to international business.

As a result the tourism industry was playing "catch up'' because the international competition was not standing still -- even Barbados was getting regular Concorde flights.

Mr. Allen also said that nothing in Mr. Dodwell's speech addressed seasonality and taxes. "I did not hear about tax incentives for the hotels or cruise ship industry.'' He said it was vital that Bermudians were on board the industry and that Ministers should ensure that jobs such as entertainers and managers were Bermudianised.

Bermudians, said Mr. Allen, must be given opportunities or they would not have "fire in their bellies''.

"The perception in the market place is that Bermuda is a has-been resort and is past its peak. It will take a Herculean effort to arrest this perception, let alone turn it around.

"We believe the industry is salvageable and we expect the Premier to give it equal billing to international business, give tourism the finance it requires and get Ministers behind Bermudians so we will have a cohesive industry that is successful.'' Transport Minister Wayne Furbert , making his first speech in the House in his new role, said: "Is there a problem with traffic? I would say it depends.

"There is no problem when people are sleeping because cars are not moving.

There are problems at certain times of the day.'' He said he would be looking at the question of tinted car windows and at the TCD failing motorbikes which were painted by their owners. He said also it should be possible to form a system stopping people standing in long lines at the TCD.

The Transport Minister said young people needed to show more respect while riding on the roads and he remarked that everyone seemed to be in a rush.

Currently he said his Ministry was working with the Police at the feasibility of using cameras in certain areas which have the ability to identify the licence plate, and persons in the car.

He said the days of "hide and seek'' are over and the public will know where these cameras are located.

Other ideas being discussed are road humps to slow traffic down and warning signs that tell motorists that a possible radar trap is coming up.

Mr. Furbert said that next year the Public Transport Board was getting a fleet of 20 air-conditioned buses which will mean that tourists and locals who use them can travel in comfort.

The Transport Minister said that he has met with the taxi drivers and he intends to have a good rapport between his Ministry and them.

At the Airport Mr. Furbert said much progress was taking place with the announcement that four Bermudians are training for management jobs.

There were plans to revamp the airport runway which will begin in 1996 he said and be completed in 1998. He said the old drainage system will be replaced with a PVC interior although the outer pipe would remain as it is.

Mr. Furbert said that Longbird House had to be removed if Bermuda's airport was to get international approval.

Shadow Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Rev. Trevor Woolridge said the newest UBP slogan about the need to advance the peace, prosperity and welfare of Bermuda was taken from a prayer which the House Speaker Ernest Decouto reads at the beginning of the session.

He accused the UBP of misconstruing its intent which was really to promote God's work and not the UBP's political agenda.

Mr. Woolridge said that Bermuda needed permanent libraries in the East and West ends of the Island so that young people can become involved in constructive activities.

He also said the media needed to use its power to promote the positive work and skills of all those who took part in the Premier's concert.

Mr. Woolridge said such promotion would promote positive messages which will spill over favorably in the community.

He also called on Government to promote Bermudian culture in the hotels such as people who play the saw, washboards and other unique instruments because it will give visitors a taste of Bermuda's culture that is different from what they are accustomed to.

Moreover, he said older Bermudians who have lived before the motorcar and who used the train could be useful story tellers that help to preserve the island's past for future generations.

Mr. Woolridge said that there was not a lot of excitement among many Bermudians at the return of the base lands because they expect Front Street to take it over.

He said the PLP has always believed in providing people with opportunities which means more than simply giving money.

Mr. Woolridge said Bermuda needed to revere and protect its tradespeople because they had skills that were needed in the Island.

ON THE ATTACK -- Opposition Leader Frederick Wade