If optimism alone was enough to win power in Bermuda, then the United Bermuda Party would already be back at the helm steering the country through the difficulties it is experiencing in housing, tourism, education and the care of seniors.

That much was clear as Opposition leader Dr. Grant Gibbons spoke to party faithful and others at a public meeting in Devonshire this week.

?We are feeling confident that we will win the next election. We think it?s coming up to our time,? said Dr. Gibbons.

?We think the (PLP) Government needs a rest and a chance to think about what they should have done. The Government will be better served with accountability ? by having the Government held accountable to the voters.?

The UBP leader continued: ?We believe in a standard and code of conduct.

?On the issue of drugs, we tried to get drug testing for all members of Parliament. For the past two or three years we have submitted ourselves to random drug testing. We believe it is important to be held to a higher standard.?

And he stated his belief that PLP Government ministers have been more concerned with ?profiling? themselves rather than getting the job done.

An audience of around 200 filled the common room at Somersfield Academy to pose questions to Dr. Gibbons and a panel of shadow ministers and senators.

Shadow Minister for Legislative Affairs John Barritt said: ?We don?t think the PLP has the will to be held to accountability. We need systems. We believe the Auditor General should be given the tools to do the job he needs to do.?

He also said that the Ombudsman should be able to investigate the highest offices of Government, not only civil servants as is currently the case.

And he added: ?We would reform the House so that ministers have to answer questions, there will be no ducking out.?

At the same time, Mr. Barritt believes there needs to be greater involvement by both sides of the House in cross-party committees, he said: ?The system works best when ministers have to answer questions either from our side or from their own backbenchers.?

The UBP is also pushing for an amendment to legislation covering absentee voting at General Elections so that those off Island on holiday or at school do not forfeit their right to a vote.

As rain pounded against the windows, Shadow Housing Minister Wayne Furbert said: ?As it rains tonight there are people sleeping under trees and in cars. I have slept outside for two nights to try to figure out why they want to do that.

?Some do it from choice, others because they are forced to.?

He said Bermuda?s limited land availability, coupled with its high house sale prices and rental costs, are clear reasons why some people find themselves without a roof over their head.

He said the UBP is exploring avenues that could address this and could help the young get a foothold on the property ladder and allow seniors, who might be property rich but income poor, to free up some of the equity in their homes through reverse mortgages.

For the young, the solution would come in the form of shared-equity home ownership. Young couples or singles could buy a percentage of a home, either 25, 50 or 75 percent with the rest remaining in the ownership of the Bermuda Housing Corporation. The route would be open to buy a larger stake in the property, even out-right ownership, at a future date.

For seniors a reverse mortgage would allow them to borrow money from financial institutions against the value of their property.

A 30-year-old mother-of-one in the audience stood up and said she had no faith in Bermuda?s public schools but also did not think it right that parents should have to pay $12,000 a year for a private education for their children.

According to Neville Darrell, Shadow Education Minister, the amount of money currently being spent on educating each public school pupil should be enough to ensure a world class education system.

?If we have the political will we can develop a first class education system by connecting into the world-wide assessment system,? he said, mentioning the Party?s intention to push for teacher licensing system.