Just hours before Premier Ewart Brown announced the election, Government revealed a giveaway Throne Speech boosting education and home-ownership.

Free Bermuda College tuition for Bermudians in accredited programmes and boosts to various scholarships were pledged alongside plans to give interest-free down payment loans to 500 families for mortgages.

Opposition leader Michael Dunkley said government had no plan to effectively address the needs of the people and the speech had "no unifying vision, no compass, no destination".

If it wins the election on December 18, Government will press ahead with plans for its tenants to pay no more than 25 percent of their income on rent while putting another ten percent towards future home-ownership.

Three purpose-built facilities for families needing emergency housing are promised for Southside.

A pledge to apply international standards to Bermuda's human rights law could pave the way for the outlawing of discrimination against homosexuals.

Already floated plans to help boost health coverage for seniors have materialised in a pledge to ensure citizens save enough in their working years to cover themselves later.

Dr. Brown said: "Government will launch an aggressive public/private campaign aimed at encouraging a direct change in the saving patterns of the people of Bermuda.

"It is an important duty of Government to prepare its people for the future and in concert with the private sector we will change the way Bermuda saves and invests."

Elder protection legislation is promised while pension amendments are aimed at putting more cash in people's pockets.

Government will reconsider its approach to substance abuse which it now regards as a public health challenge and there will be mandatory drug treatment for incarcerated addicts while an insurance scheme will be set up to make drug treatment more widely available.

A 'Bottle Bill' giving refundable deposits to discourage roadside and beach littering will be introduced to help keep Bermuda beautiful.

While international business has expressed concern over the Workforce Equity Act to fine companies deemed to be blocking the progress of black Bermudians there was no mention of it in yesterday's Throne Speech.

Nor was there any reference to Goodwill Plus which will require work permit holders to train Bermudians and then go home in a set period of time.

Government pledged new measures to go after money launderers and funders of terrorism and The Bermuda Regiment will be deployed to bolster Police who will also be given more staff to analyse intelligence. Race and tourism were scarcely mentioned.

Dr. Brown said his Government's vision was for a more prosperous Bermuda that included all of its people.