made in the economic area in the second of a series highlighting the eight separate areas of the document. Raymond Hainey reports. The human touch is a vital plank in Premier Pamela Gordon's re-election hopes. And spearheading the charge to prove the United Bermuda Party cares as much for people as profits is the massive Health and Family Services Ministry under Wayne Furbert. In the Government's list of pledges -- the Blueprint -- published at the last General Election, the field of human and social advancement had the biggest list of objectives, a total of 24. And, according to Government's update on its five-year plan, more than half are complete or ongoing, while eleven are listed as implemented/recurring. Mr. Furbert -- who took over the Ministry just months ago -- paid tribute to his predecessors, Harry Soares, Clarence Terceira and Quinton Edness. He said: "Over the last few years, there has been a combination of Ministers pushing this agenda through. "We have met our mandate -- but things are ongoing, like buying parkland for the people of this Country. "And -- as far as having a social conscience goes -- we have been there. As the lead Minister, we have accomplished a very great deal.'' Mr.

Furbert admitted, however, that there was "more we could do''. But he said: "That is where a strong economic base where Government can look to for funds is important. "Without that you can't have a very good social base and that's where the United Bermuda Party has been successful.'' Among the most important legislation, Mr. Furbert singled out the Children Act, designed to protect youngsters from abuse -- physical, sexual and mental. He said: "That's been one of the Government's major issues -- making reporting of suspected abuse mandatory and improving regulations for nurseries and foster care has played a key role in that particular work.'' And he added -- at the other end of the age scale -- the introduction of a National Pensions Scheme had helped guarantee the future financial security of existing elderly people and the current workforce as well. Mr. Furbert said: "We've also made provision for an increase in pensions by three percent, effective from this month.'' He added three acres at the old US Naval Annex, now called Morgan's Point, had been set aside for affordable senior citizens' housing. And he said Southside, the ex-US Naval Air Station, would have 18 houses built within a year-and-a-half to service the same sector. Mr. Furbert said a drive for cheaper family housing had provided more than $34 million in mortages -- 175 families. He added that mortages designed to attract first-time buyers into the private sector lending market had led to Government backing to the tune of $74 million -- equivalent to 380 mortgages. Mr. Furbert said the rights of women had also been protected with the tough new laws to combat domestic violence and legislation to guarantee equal pay for work of equal value. He admitted a new Inspectorate Office for Children had not yet been set up -- but said that Children Act was the first step towards that. And plans to create a "cultural facility to promote and celebrate the history and culture of Bermuda'' were also on hold. But he said an area of the National Sports Centre -- now under construction -- would be set aside as the exhibition area for a Cultural Centre, while the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium "will fulfil this requirement''.