This is the continuation of the debate on the Throne Speech in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Shadow Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin accused Cabinet Ministers — including Premier Paula Cox — of trying to distance themselves from the failings of the last administration.

The Opposition MP said during a debate in the House of Assembly on the Throne Speech that the same politicians who "supported 100 percent" the actions of former Premier Ewart Brown were now telling the public that change was needed.

She said she wanted to stress the importance of politicians having "some backbone and spine when they come up into this honourable House".

"Three months ago, it was perfect," she said. "Four years ago, there was no issue."

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin told MPs the reality was "we were dysfunctional as a government". She said Bermuda did not have a new government under Ms Cox, it had new leadership — and hopefully that new leadership could purge the things that weren't working previously.

"But we are broken, still," she said, adding that those responsible for the mistakes of the past ought to own up and accept responsibility for the state of the Island.

"Those are key ingredients in order to bring this broken, dysfunctional community back to a whole," said Mrs Gordon-Pamplin.

She applauded Ms Cox for pledging to cut $150 million from the Budget but said the old culture of overspending should never have been allowed to continue for as long as it did.

The new tone set by the Premier was, she added, "effectively bleaching out the Brown stains that were left".

The Shadow Minister questioned whether Ms Cox would be overstretched being in charge of a new Procurement Office, along with all her other responsibilities.

PLP backbencher Dennis Lister described how new Ministries had been created to ensure relevant departments worked with one another.

He said of the Procurement Office, which has been set up to ensure contracts are handed out on a fair basis and that capital projects are run according to best international practice: "This is clearly an indication that it's not business as usual.

"I believe that this is the right move for these times and I believe that it's the right move for this Premier to have it under her banner." He said the Premier was improving the way Government did business and "she's starting right at her own doorstep".

Mr Lister said the new Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry would be instrumental in helping Bermudians get the skills they needed to get jobs, ensuring that less work permits had to be issued.

And he said the Ministry of Business Development and Tourism brought the Island's two main economic pillars together for the first time.

"It's a must that these two pillars work together to promote Bermuda as the destination of choice for both business and vacation."

Shadow Transport Minister Charlie Swan said Government should be focusing on the needs of the people, particularly in the area of housing.

"How many people in our country need affordable housing?" he asked. "How many people need a little bit more than affordable housing? If we know the answers to these questions, we can build housing to suit."

He asked whether the 100 new properties planned for Dockyard were to be affordable.

Mr Swan said unemployment was a problem and it was disheartening for young Bermudians to go overseas to get a degree only to discover there were no jobs for them at home.

"I heard that from a number of students over the last few years," he said.

He added he was glad that Ms Cox was preparing a National Plan for Bermuda, after 12 years of PLP Government, but questioned what it would achieve.

"What would be in a National Plan that's going to touch every aspect of life in Bermuda and make us, 12 years from now, better than we are now?"

Independent MP Darius Tucker said he was excited and enthused by some of the changes outlined in the Throne Speech and did not want to pick holes with its contents.

"I don't think we should come with a negative attitude," he said. "I don't feel that we should try to stop the wheels of government. We should just make sure that if that is the road they are going on, we hold them to that line."

Mr Tucker suggested Government set up a summer camp for middle and senior school students, in conjunction with the private sector, to give youngsters an insight into different jobs in Bermuda.

He also spoke of the need for foreign workers in the Island's tourism industry to have a good grasp of English and to have a smile on their faces.

"Also, we have to have these people trained, to some degree, about Bermuda," he said.

Mr Tucker discussed Bermuda Police Service, arguing that officers ought to be available for large public events at no cost to the organisers in the current climate of increased violence.

"They are providing a service. They have gone from a force to a service, so with a service some things come for free or at a bare minimum cost."