Premier Alex Scott appeared to take a swipe at his political opponents last night in his first televised address of 2006.

Mr. Scott told the country that Bermuda had entered ?the age of empowerment? and said his speech would ?reflect on the empowering initiatives that your Government has spearheaded?.

But he questioned the meaning of empowerment, adding: ?The question is an important one because there are those that would have you believe that their stated agenda is the true empowerment agenda.

?There are those who have questioned our resolve to deliver on the promise of empowerment for present and future generations.

?Empowerment of our people does not happen with grandiose, poetic statements about the need to break away from past injustices.

?Nor does it happen with wishful thinking. It is a state towards which we must strive constantly, a journey without end.?

His comments come last than two weeks after new Opposition leader Wayne Furbert told a UBP gathering: ?It may be that we need a massive campaign of empowerment?.

Mr. Furbert said: ?If we want to throw off the legacy of racism then we have to give all Bermudians the opportunity to acquire wealth, status and power.?

The Premier?s 30-minute speech, broadcast on TV and radio at 8 p.m., contained a summary of recent Government initiatives, including an ongoing study of young black males, a cross-ministry initiative to help families with financial problems, the introduction of economic empowerment zones and plans to redevelop Court Street.

There is also a review of the tendering process at the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing, the Community Areas programme (CAP), the seniors? PC programme and educational partnerships forged by the National Training Board, he said.

He also touched on the Government?s Social Agenda and its Public Access to Information initiative. He promised the completion of the Motorsport Park facility in the coming fiscal year and detailed projects to provide more affordable housing.

Mr. Scott began by saying the Government was committed to representing ?all of its citizens? and said the recent Budget showed that the Island had ?entered an age of empowerment for all Bermudians, black, white, ?haves? and ?have-nots?.?

He returned to race later in his address, pointing out that the Government had resurrected Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB).

He said: ?As I have always maintained, Bermuda?s diversity should be regarded as a source of our strength, not our weakness. But if we are to fully realise the power of diversity we must learn to deal with the forces of division which exploit our racial and cultural differences.

?Let us acknowledge that it may be difficult for even the most well intentioned not to be affected by institutional discrimination and age-old historical racial antagonisms.

?Yet we in Government have a responsibility to lead in this arena as much as any other. We who hold the reins of power must pursue all possible options in eliminating the scourge of racism in all its forms.?