White Bermudians who support the Progressive Labour Party continue to be ostracised by their own community, the party’s Deputy Leader said on Wednesday night.Addressing an audience on the second night of the PLP’s annual conference, Derrick Burgess claimed that Health Minister Zane DeSilva had paid an economic price for his involvement with the party.“Not so long ago white Bermudians were economically punished and socially ostracised for joining with the PLP to lift up Bermuda,” Mr Burgess said.“Do you think things have changed? Ask Zane DeSilva. Dozens of his contracts were cancelled as soon as he announced his PLP connections. Scores of his old customers have ceased doing business with him. There are some things in this country that still require attention. And they say we play the race card?“Cousins, don’t be fooled. Don’t be tricked. Don’t be bamboozled. Don’t give away what your parents and grandparents fought to achieve. Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.”Mr DeSilva could not be reached for comment by presstime last night.Much of Mr Burgess’ speech was taken up with a listing of what he said was the PLP’s achievements since assuming office in 1998.The party’s mandate when it came to power was “to reverse the inequities that Bermudians were forced to endure during the era of the UBP now OBA.”“Over the 30 years of UBP administration, despite access to millions of surplus dollars they (UBP) shortchanged Bermudians, especially black Bermudians, in democratic representation, housing, healthcare, education, you name it. And what did the PLP Government do in response to that?“We immediately went into high gear and began to take care of Bermudians.”Voter equity was the first priority, he said.“Imagine after 150 years after slavery was abolished it took your PLP Government to establish democracy in this Island.”Improving the lot of seniors was the next policy objective, he said. “This Government has compiled a massive list of proud achievements to assist seniors.”Sylvia Richardson home, a new wing at Lorraine Rest Home were built and the PLP saw to it that war veterans got their war pensions.Other accomplishments for seniors included free car licences, passports, bus travel and a land tax exemption.And Government had significantly increased its subsidies for hospital care for seniors, he said.“These historical accomplishments by the PLP was achieved through intelligent and strategic spending of your money on you.”On tourism he said that the Government had built a $60 million cruise ship dock and it paid for itself in three years.“And guess who built it? A born Bermudian, member of the PLP. Dennis Correia.” Mr Burgess said that Mr Correia surpassed expectations by building the dock in 18 months although foreign contractors had said it could only be done in 24 months.He had also saved the Government $1.2 million on building the fast ferry docks.Mr Burgess went on to deride the “combined opposition” which he said had “criticised us for not providing sufficient housing for Bermudians.”But Government had spent more than $300 million on “housing for our folks,” he said.“No more noise from the UBP now OBA. What they are saying now is you’ve got too much housing.”He added that in the past only wealthy Bermudians could afford to go abroad for medical care, but that was now no longer the case thanks to the PLP.Mr Burgess reminded the audience of the criticism from the Opposition when the PLP decided to purchase fast ferries.He also addressed Day Care, saying that 425 families are saving significant amounts because of the programme.And he said that Government had given up millions in tax concessions to help businesses.“This Government is active in stimulating the economy with the public purse. The question is the private sector doing as much as us,” he said.“Your PLP Government despite the hostile media environment, has pressed on. Cousins, we cannot go backwards. We cannot interrupt our march now. We must not deprive our young leaders of the opportunity to aspire to leadership.”And he called on the delegates to put aside any “petty differences” and focus on electoral victory. “We must retain political power.”