The Progressive Labour Party faces a make-or-break Throne Speech with voters demanding the party deliver on pre-election promises, a party activist warns.

The call came yesterday after Premier Jennifer Smith signalled more teeth to this year's Throne Speech at the start of this week's annual PLP conference.

And she also flagged new initiatives aimed at improving the lot of ordinary Bermudians -- in education, employment and electoral reform.

Ex-PLP central committee member Rolfe Commissiong said: "The Throne Speech should be a little bit more ambitious -- I hope it will be more so than the minimalist style speech we got the first go round.'' And Mr. Commissiong added: "Increasingly, the party's own supporters are going to be asking `where's the beef?' '' Changes to the structure of the Civil Service -- in line with a still-secret review carried out by UK experts -- may be in line for an airing in the Throne Speech.

That could include more use of outside consultants drafted for specific jobs.

Mr. Commissiong -- on the left of a party which has moved to the right as part of a strategy to capture power -- said that he would be disappointed not to see a major initiative to ease the shortage of affordable housing.

He added: "I also think we're going to have to see a major initiative on empowering those groups in society who have been excluded from the mainstream.'' And he said he wanted to see "relief for small businesses'' -- which he insisted were unfairly penalised.

This year's Throne Speech could see changes in a system of Ministerial responsibility inherited from the former UBP Government -- and perhaps the special Cabinet post promised for international business.

And a popular move would be legislation to increase the level of compensation for industrial injuries -- which has not been reviewed for a decade.

Mr. Commissiong added: "Of course, the big bug bear which continues to bedevil us, despite the signs over the last three or four weeks, is how we're going to turn or renew our fortunes in tourism.'' And he said plans to redraw the political map of Bermuda to equalise the size of constituencies and end the twin-seat system should also be a priority.

Change in that area -- raised by Premier Jennifer Smith at the first Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting in London last week -- will probably need a Constitutional conference before any change can be made. A move to introduce elected Parish Councils, however, could be made to increase grassroots involvement in the political process.

Mr. Commissiong said: "They are going to have to take on some big ticket items -- among their own loyal supporters, they expect no less this Parliamentary session.'' Mr. Commissiong also singled out the crisis in education -- and called for action in that area, likely, in view of Premier Jennifer Smith's former role as Education Minister.