new Government to build upon.

But Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb challenged Oppoosition Leader Pamela Gordon's assessment and said the UBP focused upon infrastructure at the cost of the people.

"There is much that we need to do to clean up the mess that the UBP left behind,'' she said.

Ms Gordon stressed the Country's wellbeing as the most important issue for both parties to consider.

She brushed aside concerns that the UBP had been weakened by its recent defeat, saying her team would help the Government and represent the people.

Ms Gordon noted three ways the UBP had helped and would continue to help the PLP.

The Airport, Ruth Seaton James Auditorium, Southside development and Pembroke playground were all examples of successful former Government projects, she said.

Ms Gordon also mentioned the Monitor group's efforts to grow tourism and said she hoped the PLP would recognise the "spillover'' of UBP projects as new items came on line.

The UBP also assisted the Government by providing benchmarks of comparison, she continued.

"Benchmarks are facts that cannot be argued with,'' she said. "These are things that we will measure the new Government by.'' The Opposition Leader noted a "tame'' inflation rate of around two percent, a double A credit rating on borrowing, an unemployment rate of 1.5 per cent, low debt levels, and a current account surplus as examples of the Island's sound foundation.

"Anything better than before, we will ensure that the new Government is praised. Anything less, we will ensure that our voice is heard,'' she said.

"There was a strong base on which the Government could build,'' she added.

The third area in which the UBP would work with the PLP was in the sphere of legislative action, continued Ms Gordon.

And she went on to single out the PLP's decision to hold a national holiday on January 4.

Ms Gordon suggested the day's estimated $1 million price tag could have been used to give away a hundred $10,000 scholarships.

She added she supported a national savings scheme to help parents ensure their children went to the best universities and colleges available.

And she urged young people to seek out accredited and recognised schools of tertiary education so they would be "all but guaranteed'' employment.

Ms Gordon said senior citizens -- upon whose backs the Country was built -- should be provided with a one-stop shopping facility.

And she admitted there was "a new feeling in the community'' since the election, but urged the new Government to encourage the inclusion of all Bermudians.

This was a message her party had tried -- but failed -- to send, she admitted.

"You are only as good as you are perceived to be,'' she said.

She said the new Government would find it difficult to take criticism while trying to satisfy the needs of a diverse population.

She added that the only way to ensure the Island's continued prosperity in the international arena was to maintain its successful image.

And Ms Gordon noted that the Bahamas was watching the Island to see if it could profit from a possible demise in Bermuda's economy.

Ms Webb reacted strongly to Ms Gordon's comments and told the UBP that it would have to "work hard to develop trust''.

Ms Gordon's examples of inherited assets -- "in typical UBP fashion'' -- were about things and not issues or people, she added.

People were "sick and tired'' of hearing about "how much money was spent on buildings'', she stressed.

The Country was more concerned with a higher crime rate than ever before, "brothers and sisters succumbing to drugs'', and families struggling to make ends meet.

She also shot down a criticism by Deputy Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons that Government failed to consider the Euro launch when choosing January 4 as a public holiday.

Ms Webb said the Opposition would have found reason to complain regardless of what day was chosen and pointed out that the idea to have a day of celebration was neither new or unusual.

"We are people-centred. The people are jubilant, the people are excited. We deserve a holiday. One day is not going to break Bermuda.'' Ms Webb also went on to challenge a portion of the Opposition party's Throne Speech response which stated the Opposition would "support all those initiatives that meet the fundamental standards of accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility''.

MPs debate former Government's legacy Ms Webb said the Opposition should explain the conditions surrounding the use of public funds for renovations to the home Ms Gordon rented and continues to inhabit in Tamarind Vale.

"Let's be transparent about that one. Let us know the real deal when it comes to that particular house. Please clarify that for the Country,'' she said.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said the PLP had only provided half the answer to stopping crime.

"Renee Webb said that levels of crime are higher than ever and I believe that to be correct but there is nothing in the Throne Speech on how this Government is going to deal with the problem,'' he said.

"People are crying out for some action on crime and drugs -- people are living in fear and we need to give them some answers. While I applaud the Government's stance on rehabilitation, we need to be firm on criminals. If there is no deterrent, people will stray.'' Mr. Dunkley also said there was no mention of any initiative to increase road safety and called for a Christmas blitz on drink drivers.

"People are putting their lives at risk because of driving habits on our roads,'' he said.

"There seems to be a total disregard for the speed limit and driving without a licence or without insurance. I hope that the Minister will get on top of these problems. I think it's worth some sort of road blitz. There's more traffic on the roads now but that's no excuse for not obeying the rules of the road.'' Other concerns of Mr. Dunkley's include Police Service morale and immigration.

"We don't seem to have respect for the Police department anymore,'' he said.

"Unless we bring that respect level up we can't expect them to carry out their duty.

"The Police are trying to fill places on these training courses and low and behold they can't fill the numbers. In my opinion that reflects on the fact that Bermudians don't want to be Police officers. We have to ask why don't they want to be Police officers.

"Immigration will always be a hot potato and we are all aware of some of the concerns that will come up over the years. I am sure those concerns will continue to arise but that department's mandate has always been to give Bermudians the opportunity to get into the workplace but at the same time that department has to make the economy grow.'' Government backbencher Derrick Burgess broke with the conciliatory atmosphere that has dominated the House of Assembly since the Election by attacking the legacy of the UBP.

He accused the UBP of using scare tactics in their election campaign and defended Government's decision to hold a public holiday on January 4.

And he also claimed the Police were in disarray due to bad management by the UBP.

"They say that the public holiday is going to cost $1 million,'' he said.

"Well just look at how many consultants we have in this Country. Why are we bringing in all these overseas consultants? I believe that we, as Bermudians, have the expertise to run this country.'' The Hamilton East MP went on to say that statistics proved that promotion within the Police Service was less rapid for blacks. And he demanded to know why PLP colleague Wayne Perinchief MP, a former Assistant Commissioner, could not have headed the Police Service.

Concluded in Monday's newspaper