preview of his party's eagerly awaited election platform.

Key planks include: A Ministry of International Business; A national school curriculum; A National Youth Corps; Wider distribution of prescription drugs; and Boosting benefits for the disabled and hard of hearing.

Mr. Wade also vowed to declare war on drugs and said there would be a complete review of the tax system.

But he ruled out income tax describing it as the "devil incarnate'' to most Bermudians.

Mr. Wade went on to try to dislodge another political millstone which he claimed his party had been unfairly burdened with.

He said his Shadow Minister Mr. David Allen had never supported a Bermuda Government airline. Mr. Allen had always backed a privately run air carrier, he added.

For the campaigners for independence Mr. Wade had bad news.

The PLP platform would not include any move towards independence, at this stage. Bermudians' minds were too concentrated on making ends meet during the recession, said Mr. Wade.

But when the PLP went to the Country over independence it would do so through an election -- not a referendum.

Of his election prospects, Mr. Wade declared: "We have the programmes, we have the people, we have the courage and we have the skills to carry out our programmes, and when we form the Government we intend to make a quick start.'' Mr. Wade allowed a glimpse at the platform during a meeting of Sandys Rotary Club at the Henry VIII restaurant in Southampton.

He began by hailing the "progressive programmes'' the PLP had been responsible for over the last 30 years.

These included championing the cause of pensioners, raising the school leaving age, and universal adult suffrage.

Mr. Wade said the 1993 platform -- to be unveiled in days -- would highlight six areas.

"The first concern of most Bermudians is the state of the Bermuda economy and the continuing recession.

"It is our position that until the vast majority of Bermudians have largely returned to the financial position they were in before the recession the recession is not over.'' Mr. Wade added: "It is our intention to rebuild the tourist industry and to further develop international business.'' The Club Med site, for instance, would be redeveloped, and include restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities.

St. George's would stand to benefit from such revival, Mr. Wade said.

He added a Ministry of International Business would be formed to "communicate with the industry so as to ensure that we provide the correct legislature framework for growth''.

On education, Mr. Wade said: "The PLP will develop a national curriculum to train young people to think, analyse, organise and adapt.'' Mr. Wade said young Bermudians would be focused on.

"Our National Youth Corps will be a major engine designed to generate training, education, recreation and development of the full potential of our young people.''