Bermuda should begin to honour its own by naming streets, institutions and public buildings after national heroes, said the widow of former Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Leader Frederick Wade.

"Nation building is a process," said Ianthia Simmons-Wade. "It does not begin on Independence Day. It is about having national pride in our people, in our community, in our country but most of all in ourselves."

She questioned how many people could recognise the Island's national flower, tree, food dance or "most of all our national heroes."

"It is about recognising the architects who through collective action in one way or another have taken Bermuda to this point. It is not about talking, it is about doing."

Mrs. Simmons-Wade was speaking at the PLP's Founder's Day luncheon shortly after accepting an award from the party for her husband's service.

Premier Alex Scott had earlier issued a call for the country to begin a national dialogue on Independence.

"Our young people today are continually searching to find someone to emulate, role models and heroes. Bermuda has all of these, but it is critical that we place a value and recognise that value by making the intangible tangible. These people, both black and white, from the areas of art, politics, sport, education, community service, culture, music and healthcare, need to be in our lives on a day to day basis.

"Bermuda has street names ? Court, Church, Burnaby, Front, Parliament. Our schools are Sandys Secondary, Somerset Primary, CedarBridge, Clearwater," she continued.

"Recently the Bermuda Tennis Stadium was named the W.E.R. Joell Stadium 20 years after my grandfather's death... These honours must be timely in order to truly become an integral part of our lives, especially in the lives of our young people. Frederick once said the day will come when people will say 'Frederick? Frederick who?' I hope that day will never come."

Mr. Wade became leader of the PLP in November, 1985 taking over from Dame Lois Browne Evans. He died two years before the party took power in the historic General Election of 1998, and is widely credited with rebuilding the party and sowing the seeds of its first success at the polls.