The United Bermuda Party unveiled a raft of measures yesterday to boost economic opportunity.

Rejecting the Government's proposed Workforce Equity Bill which specifically targets Black Bermudians for help, the UBP said one piece of legislation wasn't enough and empowerment was a life-long process.

Leader Michael Dunkley said: "Fairness in the workplace and the larger question of empowering our people are serious issues. If handled correctly they can help this island move forward together.

"If not they can continue to divide and discriminate."

The Opposition pledged to boost help to parents by extending maternity leave, expanding the number of government-run affordable day care centres and providing financial support for families to cover day care.

In what the UBP admitted was part of their forthcoming election platform, free bus and ferry services and a school breakfast for every child in need were also promised.

Bursaries will be created for at-risk secondary school students who might benefit from schooling abroad.

Bermuda College will have business learning boosted with a curriculum designed by the industry and there will be a summer camp for students in reinsurance and finance.

The College will also host a national technical training institute.

Life-long learning grants will be available for Bermudians wanting re-training to compete for better jobs while there will be increased funding for those who have dropped out of the public education system.

UBP Shadow Attorney General John Barritt said an immigration appeal board will be set up to handle complaints from Bermudians who feel they are not getting a fair deal in the workplace.

A Workforce Equity Board will examine companies which are succeeding in hiring black Bermudians in particular to see how those successes can translate to other sectors.

And a voluntary code of practice, drawn up for employers years ago by the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality to help eliminate racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity, will become mandatory.

The code is to ensure that no person is barred from getting a job for reasons other than ability.

And Senator Bob Richards said an office of economic empowerment would be set up to assist small businesses.

Small businesses will be shown how to bid for Government contracts — indeed 20 percent of those contracts will be reserved for them — while Government also promises to pay bills to contractors within 30 days.

There are also plans to encourage investment in North Hamilton including a five-year relief guarantee on land tax for businesses that purchase new property in the zone, expand or upgrade their facilities, make property improvements, buy equipment of refinance and existing loan.

* For the full text of the UBP's release see www.ubp.bm