Dr. Martin Luther King once said, ?There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of the people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it, who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society protect that society but when they don?t have it they unconsciously want to destroy it.?

This statement made about the United States at the height of the civil rights movement almost 40 years ago is relevant to the people of Bermuda today. We have made tremendous progress in the areas of race relations but despite all our efforts, Bermuda continues to exist with blacks and whites divided.

As a people, we have a responsibility to break down these racial barriers in our community and assist in the reconciliation process. That is why we have created the new portfolio I now hold as Shadow Minister for Race Relations and Economic Opportunity. We recognise that this won?t be easy, but we are willing to expose ourselves to the challenges of this issue rather than hiding from them. We believe that Bermuda?s future success, and the future success of every Bermudian, depends on getting this right.

Bermuda is a country with limitless possibilities and untapped potential. Unfortunately far too many of our people have the minds and the will, but lack the means to improve their economic status. We must address the fact that certain people have been excluded and that whites have benefited from this ... Let?s face it that is the reality.

We must remember what has happened in the past ? so that each of us, black and white, can deal with it and continue the reconciliation process. In 2005, all Bermudians should have an opportunity to be active participants in the economy of Bermuda, irrespective of race. Until we as a people address this, Bermuda will only be a good country but will never be the great country that it can be.

I believe that Bermuda should have a national policy that will promote racial and economic unity, equality of opportunity and fair access to Government contracts. That?s why on December 4, 2004 the United Bermuda Party unveiled the first stage of our Economic Opportunity Plan, The Economic Empowerment Bill 2004. A plan that will move our dream of One Bermuda with opportunity for all and special privilege for none closer to reality. We believe that the final obstacles to this vision must be pushed aside and we are prepared to do the work and make the sacrifice to ensure this happens.

The Economic Empowerment Bill serves four purposes:

For too long the perception has been that opportunity in Bermuda is based more on who you are and who you know, than on ability. Our plan would commit government to spending no less than 20 percent of the millions of dollars that it spends annually ? on goods and services to small business.

While this will not increase government spending overall, it represents a significant increase in the amount of government money spent among small businesses.

This will expand opportunity for those many businesses that have never had the chance to provide their goods and services to the government.

The plan formally establishes a national policy on economic empowerment so as to promote economic unity, promote equal opportunity and fair access to Government contracts. This plan commits businesses that receive over $5 million in government contracts to participate in a government-sponsored small business mentoring programme and commits the government to providing training for small businesses in how to bid on government contracts. This will help small businessmen help themselves by providing access to the information and business contacts that will allow them to capitalise on the new opportunities that will be created.

Too often, far too many of our people have had the minds and the will to succeed but lacked the means. This plan facilitates both financing by local banking institutions and the brokering of venture capital for small businesses that have earned government contracts. No longer will small businesses have to live in fear that they won?t be able to obtain financing when working on government projects.

The Economic Empowerment plan commits government to reporting annually to Parliament and to the people of Bermuda on the progress of the plan. This will ensure that we, the politicians, keep our promises and that we will be held accountable for the progress of the Economic Empowerment programme.

Beyond the Economic Empowerment Bill, as a country we should be looking at:Nelson Mandela once said that, ?Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.?

Let us ensure that every Bermudian who has the will to improve their condition through education has the means to afford that education. We must commit ourselves to ensuring that every Bermudian who wants to go to college has the financial resources to do so. The policy of mandatory retirement severs healthy, able-bodied seniors from their livelihood, puts a strain on our medical and insurance system and drives many of our seniors into poverty. Many of our seniors still have a lot to contribute and should be given the opportunity to do so.As a people we must recognise that the world is changing, our economy is changing and the knowledge and skills that held most workers in good stead in the 20th century are swiftly becoming obsolete in the 21st century.

We must make a national commitment, beginning in our pre-schools, that the next generation has the skills to compete in the information age. We must also ensure that this generation of workers is given the tools to keep pace with the ever-increasing demands of the 21st century.This must be an educational priority at every level of our education system. From budgeting to investment training our children should be given the knowledge and the tools that will increase their opportunity for improving their economic status. Today the tax burden placed on small businesses are a disincentive to expansion and growth. We must seek new ways to encourage the creation of small businesses and the growth of existing businesses, whether it is through the creation of Economic Empowerment Zones in areas such as North Hamilton or through a restructuring of the taxes on small businesses ? this is an absolutely necessary step.Each of us who have been successful in business have someone we can credit with giving us a word of advice, putting us in the right direction, or opening doors for us. I believe that each of us who have achieved success have a responsibility to reach into the next generation and open doors for others. But beyond that businesses should be prepared to reach out to smaller businesses and, yes, even smaller competitive businesses, work with them and in some cases even partner with them to break down some of the barriers that still exist everyone will win!

We have an opportunity and a need to break down the barriers, which continue to hold Bermuda back from being the great country that it could be. I am committed to making this dream a reality and I know that it won?t be easy.

It is time to move talk to action and expose ourselves to the risks and challenges of the critical issues of race and economic opportunity.

Sir Henry Tucker said it best, ?We can only exist if we work together.?

This vision of broadening economic opportunity, expanding ownership of financial assets, the creation of new businesses and opportunities and helping new generations of Bermudians participate in the Bermudian dream will move our country in a new, more positive direction.

The issues of race and economic opportunity are not just for the benefit of the black community. We believe that whites must play a role in and benefit from our vision as well. If we can find new ways to expand opportunity, it doesn?t have to mean anyone, black or white, giving up wealth, power and influence.

Expanding and creating new forms of economic opportunity will benefit each of us because the economic pie that isn?t being shared equally will grow and prosper, rather than shrink and wither away.

Nelson Mandela once said, ?I have fought against white domination and fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony with equal opportunities.?

So many of us black and white want to reach out, and want to break down the barriers that divide us, but we have become fearful that we will make a mistake, fearful that we will inadvertently cause offence, fearful that we will be rebuked and rejected. As a community we must overcome our fears and move from just believing in diversity and opportunity towards making it a reality.

In 2005 we will continue to unveil our Economic Opportunity Plan and continue to provide a leadership role in bringing all of our people together. I hope that each of you will join us in making our vision a reality.

After all, our people deserve nothing less than One Bermuda, where success is achieved through unity and where success is shared by all.

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