Jennifer Smith notes that the Speech had been described as an "electioneering speech''.

Perhaps Ms Smith was simply showing that two can play at that game when she later said: "The Progressive Labour Party stands ready to take on the role of the Government and able to serve this country as a Government of the people, by the people and for the people.'' With an election looming, it is inevitable that both parties will use the Throne Speech as an unofficial start to their campaigns. It would be surprising if either party declared themselves unfit to form the next government.

Still, it is to be hoped that the PLP and the UBP -- both of whom have been affected by problems with individual personalities in the last few months -- will now get down to debating the issues affecting the Country.

It has already been noted that the Throne Speech, while it outlined an ambitious programme for the country, contained a number of unproven declarations -- most notably, Government's strong stand on the environment.

But the PLP's reply was longer on rhetoric than substance. It could be argued that a party in Opposition does not have the army of civil servants needed to turn ideas into substantive plans, but in one area after another, the PLP criticised the status quo and offered little detail on what they would do to change it -- hardly a way to engender confidence in their ability to govern.

In Labour and Home Affairs, the PLP claimed Bermudians are being forced out of the job market and says companies should provide more training to staff.

Yet their only solution was a call for a study conducted by the Bermuda College on the links between education, recidivisim and unemployment for Bermudians.

On the environment, the PLP says: "We must learn to live and share this land in harmony with those creatures which still can be found here''. Few would disagree, but the speech gives no indication of how it intends to achieve that admirable goal.

And in tourism, the speech diagnoses many of the ills affecting the industry, saying it is in "free fall''. But it fails to say if it agrees or disagrees with plans for a Tourism Authority which would link up the private and public sectors. And its only major solution is an oft-repeated call for a tax review of the hotel industry. While the industry would benefit from lower taxes, a lower tax burden would surely only be a start to solving the industry's structural price problems, which are related to the high costs of importing goods, high wages and the continued problems of getting adequate and price competitive airlift.

Perhaps this reply was not an election speech after all, and more detail on what the PLP proposes to do if it becomes the next government will be available in its election manifesto. Apparently, we will have to wait and see.