“Radical education reform” would be a swift priority of a Progressive Labour Party Government, Opposition Leader Marc Bean declared in the Reply to the Throne Speech.

Economic diversification, plus an opening of Bermuda’s health insurance market to cut healthcare costs, were among the other initiatives delivered.

Mr Bean’s speech, delivered yesterday over 50 minutes, accused the governing One Bermuda Alliance of offering a nonexistent economic recovery in which sacrifices fell disproportionately on middle and lower income workers, along with the Island’s black community.

“Bermuda has waited patiently for almost two years for this Government to get its act together and deliver on its promises,” the Warwick South Central MP said. “Sadly, much like the hundreds of homeowners who are still without the necessary slate supplies to repair their roofs, those hopes continue to be unrealised.”

The Reply dismissed last week’s Throne Speech assertion that Bermuda’s economy had shown signs of recovery, with Mr Bean telling MPs: “The fact is that in spite of the OBA and PLP efforts, there is little growth on the horizon.” Only Opposition MPs were present, as the OBA side withdrew en masse for the bulk of his speech.

Although supportive of the tourism industry and international business, Mr Bean said Bermudians had been schooled to become “workers, and not entrepreneurs”. He said greater foreign investment could be brought to Bermuda, with outside banks allowed to do business, as well as “some of the top law firms around the world”.

He voiced support for “creating greater competition in the insurance, fund management, wealth management, telecommunications, and information and technological or e-commerce industries” — in part by offering concessions for companies to set up shop on properties owned by the Bermuda Land Development Corporation.

Mr Bean suggested a discussion on recommendations by the independent Cannabis Reform Collaborative that Bermuda relax its laws on recreational cannabis use — a step further than the Throne Speech proposal to allow medical cannabis products into the Island.

“The global trend is such that we should not hesitate to turn this into an opportunity that can help stimulate tourism, and provide job opportunities for Bermudians, in addition to increased revenues for the Government,” he said.

Airline partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean, permitting restaurants, entertainers and bars onto selected beaches, and making the Department of Airport Operations into a quango to cut Government spending, were other suggestions to boost tourism.

Mr Bean said the Opposition “notes with disdain” that the OBA had announced a redeveloped terminal for LF Wade International Airport just two days after its Throne Speech.

Charging that Government lacked transparency and accountability, Mr Bean said the PLP had “grave concerns” — and accused The Royal Gazette of being “consciously determined” not to ask questions of it.

At the heart of the Reply was an ambitious series of plans for the Island’s school system.

“In order for our people to be equipped to compete in Bermuda, and not be marginalised from our economy by an influx of foreign workers, but be prepared to fully function within our economy, a future PLP Government will embark on radical education reform,” Mr Bean said.

The Opposition has already stated its plan to dismantle the middle school system; yesterday Mr Bean proposed that the Bermuda College and CedarBridge Academy merge their resources, turning CedarBridge’s extensive technical facilities into an extension of the College’s science and technology campus.

The Opposition also proposed a streamlining of the Department of Education to cut costs, and suggested retired teachers be courted to assist with teacher training

Mr Bean told The Royal Gazette that a re-elected PLP Government would act “within 90 days” on boosting education, calling it key to “the long and rocky road to social progress”.

“The problems we face are not just academic outcomes, but social,” Mr Bean said. “Anyone who does not understand the social consequences of our educational system is not interested in solving our social problems.”

The reply speech additionally called for a Sports Academy to make use of Bermuda’s leading sports figures.

“One of the many negative effects of our current educational system is the lack of competitive interschool sports, as many of us can remember,” Mr Bean said. “The time to adjust is now.”

Mr Bean also urged discussion on an investment in the Island’s sporting and workmen’s club infrastructure, which could potentially call upon revenues from a National Lottery, public-private partnership or funding from Government itself.

On the legal front, the Opposition said it planned to tackle “economic and social laws”, with a legislative agenda including the Interest Rate Amendment Bill, the Debtors Amendment Bill, an Act or make provision for a four-year university in Bermuda, and a Land Injustices Compensation Act.

A PLP administration would repeal the contentious section 20B of the Immigration Act, under which a Supreme Court decision allowed for certain Permanent Resident’s Certificate holders to receive Bermuda status.

“We also call for the creation of a public registry of paedophiles,” Mr Bean added, to approval from fellow MPs, saying a “name and shame” approach was necessary from a safety standpoint.

“All of the answers to our problems lie within us,” Mr Bean told the House as the Reply closed. “We can reinvent our economy, we can create our own businesses and we can build a Bermuda that works for Bermudians, if we open our minds, reject fear and bravely step into the future.”