Bermudians will go to the polls to elect the next Government this year, Premier Paula Cox told her party's faithful last night.And the Progressive Labour Party will lead the way to the end of mandated conscription through the development of a full time army.“We are committed to having a full time Regiment with a paid cadre of officers and to move away from mandated conscription,” Ms Cox said to applause in her keynote address at the second night of the party’s annual conference.“This year — I’m giving you a hint now — in the coming election, the Progressive Labour Party will be calling on you to stand up for these values and to look at what we have done during our three terms in office,” she said.“Let us remember that we inherited a country full of division where a forgotten group of people were sidelined by those who put the interests of business first. We changed that equation. Now it is the people first.”–Ms Cox continued: “Yes indeed we have more work to do. That is why winning this election is so urgently important and that is why we will win this election.”Ms Cox gave a preview of the PLP’s platform by outlining a “10-point road map for recovery and growth”.Job creation topped the list which also included developing Bermuda as an attractive place to do business, strengthening tourism, improving public safety, improving public education, energy sustainability, responsible budgeting, supporting seniors and creating economic opportunities for Bermudians in an infrastructure improvement programme.“There are many theories about the economy but for most Bermudians the only issue that matters is having a job,” Ms Cox said.Job creation programmes include a project to have local companies refurbish Government properties, launching a boom in the construction industry.She urged her audience to keep the faith and bring out the vote by listing accomplishments of her Government and highlighting what she said were key philosophical differences from the Opposition.“The next election is going to be about a choice, a choice between two very different philosophies. On the one hand you have a PLP that believes in investing in people and standing strong for Bermudians,” Ms Cox said.“On the other hand you have a cynically renamed UBP that offers no real ideas and no real solutions to meet our challenges. They don’t get it.“They say widen our economic empowerment zones so that those who used to benefit will continue to benefit. WE say those who need help should get it in a targeted way. That is how you level the playing field and help those who need it most, but they don’t get it.”She continued: “We’ve heard one of their elder statesmen say in answer to a query at a public meeting that trickle down is how things work. Just let business do whatever it wants and the wealth will eventually trickle down to the people. They don’t get it.“Two years ago Bob Richards told The Royal Gazette it really has to be all about austerity. Austerity means deep and damaging cuts to programmes that help people — like DayCare, like Future Care. It means fewer police on the streets.“Austerity means thousands of unemployed Bermudians and a poorer life for countless thousands more. They don’t get it. We in the PLP measure the success of our economy not by how much money we can get away with not spending but by how much we can invest in Bermudians. We build the economy by helping people prosper and we work to make their lives better, much better.”The PLP had built “the most affordable housing in the history of Bermuda,” she said.And her party had delivered free buses for students, reduced car licence fees for seniors, supported small businesses through the economic empowerment zones and launched job training programmes.“We put people to work and we have collaborated with Government House and the police to provide the resources so that people could feel safer in their homes at night. That work continues with your help.”Government had also built the Lambe Foggo clinic, refurbished the Somerset clinic and “we are delivering a new hospital to revolutionise the quality of healthcare for Bermudians.“We delivered the landmark FutureCare reform which is providing the doctor’s visits and the low cost prescription drugs that our seniors deserve after a lifetime of hard work.“And we did all this during the worst financial crisis since the 1930s.”Like other countries, the Premier said, Bermuda had to choose between austerity and investment.“We chose to invest in our people, but here’s what the opposition doesn’t want the people to know. We did it in such a way that our debt remains among the lowest in the developed world.”But her address also recognised the challenges faced by the Island.“We are standing strong at a defining moment. A moment when our economy is still recovering and many people are feeling vulnerable,” she said.“It is far too difficult to find jobs, the cost of living is high, gang violence is a problem among our youth. The PLP Government is addressing all these challenges and we will not be hindered by the political sniping that seeks to distract us from the real issues.”The conference also heard speeches by Deputy Leader Derrick Burgess — who got a standing ovation upon introduction by MC Scott Simmons — candidate Neville Tyrell, Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith, and Dale Butler.Dame Jennifer, who led the party to its first victory at the polls, gave her audience a brief history lesson and said the PLP had played a key role in bringing about a more just society.“I remember when the PLP’s call for free hospitalisation, free education, workmen’s compensation, and old age pensions were derided as "socialism" by the UBP,” Dame Jennifer said.“Bermuda was governed for decades in a manner that looked good on the outside, while ignoring the fundamentals on the inside — no benefits for the people; scrimping on taking care of the infrastructure; endangering people and the economy as buildings, bridges and infrastructures grew old.“Introducing, when it became politically expedient, these same PLP ‘socialist’ ideas. Suddenly, there was free hospitalisation, free education, workmen’s compensation and old age pensions. These are just a few of the PLP’s achievements — we did not institute them but, make no mistake, it was because of the PLP that they were implemented.”