financial, physical, and moral support to the Progressive Labour Party as it prepares for the next general election.

His call came during the PLP's $50-a-plate annual banquet attended by some 300 people on Saturday night at The Princess hotel.

Noting that hard work helped US President-elect Bill Clinton to victory, Mr.

Wade said: "What I've learnt in my short time in politics is that attention to detail can turn a defeat into victory; attention to detail and hard work can turn a victory into a landslide.

"So if we are to take the wind of change that is blowing in America, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world, to Bermuda, let us turn that wind of change into a hurricane through our hard work and attention to detail, so that when it blows to Bermuda, it blows stronger than Emily and takes the UBP government right out to sea.

"If we're going to turn this tropical storm, which started in Guyana and my good friend in Bahamas, and Mr. Bush in Washington -- it missed England by mistake -- we need to get from you the people your support. Your support is required financially, physically, and morally.

"We need money to be able to do the things we have to do, in other words, make an election work.'' Stressing that political advertisements have to be paid up front, Mr. Wade urged supporters to dig deep into their "back drawers'', "purses hidden in the closet'', deposit boxes, and money set aside for vacations and contribute to the party.

He said the PLP would be calling and writing to individuals about this over the next few days.

"We intend to put it to very good use,'' he said, adding that the party could also use clerical and other practical assistance.

Guest speaker British Labour Party MP Ms Diane Abbott urged blacks to throw their support behind black politicians and professionals.

Ms Abbott, who is the first black woman ever elected to the British House of Commons and is serving a second term as MP for the predominantly black constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, stressed the need for blacks to know their history, take pride in themselves and unite.

"If we are serious about politics, and realise politics starts with ourselves as human beings, we have to be serious about being proud of our black history, serious about respecting ourselves as black people, and respecting other blacks,'' she said.

"We will not win the respect of the white community unless we respect ourselves.

"Without thinking about it we assume that a white man or white woman would know more, a white professional.

"How many of us put our money back into the black community? How many of us who have made it up our chosen ladder whether it be business or law have looked back down that ladder and given younger black people a helping hand? "Unless our blackness is something we feel a genuine pride in and teach our children a genuine pride in, we are holding ourselves back in a way no white man or white government or white power structure could ever do,'' she said.

Ms Abbott also called on black men to give black women "the maximum love, respect and support''.

Reflecting on international issues, Ms Abbott said Bermuda and other colonies and ex-colonies of Britain must realise that Britain is turning away from its historical relationships and looking towards Europe. "I believe that people of colour internationally will suffer politically and economically as Europe turns its face away from the third world and in on itself and into its own problems,'' Ms Abbott said.