Kim Swan claimed yesterday.

For Sen. Swan said the PLP dropped to just seven seats in the mid-80s -- but won a thumping majority just ten years later.

But he added: "We have certainly to be mindful that up and down this country, notwithstanding we are not the government, there are people looking to us for leadership.'' Sen. Swan added that in the run-up to the General Election "a great deal of talk centred around the Civil Service.'' And he said he was sure some in the public sector were "a little bit apprehensive'' about being victimised for their political standpoint in the wake of the PLP victory.

He added: "The important thing which needs to be recognised is that we have a Civil Service and we must respect the integrity of the people in it.

"I make that point very seriously because in my working directly or indirectly with the Civil Service I know a person has a job to do.'' And he said "a requirement of that should not be a political affiliation with the party in power.'' Sen. Swan was speaking as the Upper House got to grips with the Throne Speech.

Earlier, Sen. Calvin Smith said he wanted to see back of town opened up to spread the tourist dollars around.

He added: "We believe we can uplift and bring economic vigour to our downtrodden areas.

"Where we're now looking for crack houses to smash up, we believe we can bring tourists to interact with these people. We don't see many tourists going down back of town.'' He added: "We believe that since Bermuda is first world not third world, Bermuda is safe and clean, there is a possibility of a unique tourism experience here they couldn't find anywhere else.'' And he said international business, although vital to the economy, could not replace tourism as an employer of Bermudians.

Sen. Kim Swan said he had worked in the tourism industry and said it was a way "to build character.''