unborn generations,'' United Bermuda Party Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess claimed yesterday.

Sen. Burgess accused the Progressive Labour Party of putting politics before people and of not having the courage of its convictions to trust Bermudians about its plans for the Constitution.

He said he was saddened the UBP boycotted the Throne Speech, but "it was the lesser of two evils.

"For the failure of us in this country at this point in time to get it right will enslave our unborn generations''.

Replying to the Throne Speech, he added: "You can't claim to be the people's government if you set out to make decisions which deliberately keep out the people you claim to represent.'' When PLP Senator Col. David Burch said his party did not represent the minority, Sen. Burgess hit back: "The Constitution is written even to ensure minorities have rights.'' He continued: "I pray the Government will come to its senses on its own or the British will cause them to come to their senses. I pray that good, decent common sense will prevail.'' He said the UBP was in favour of one man, one vote of equal value.

Sen. Burgess said 90 per cent of young Bermudians enjoyed a good standard of living and accused the PLP of doing nothing for the ten percent who don't.

Government talked about modernising Government in the Throne Speech rather than modernising people's lives.

"Bermuda is visionless. It is a Government without a vision creating a people without a vision.'' Sen. Burgess said Government could have appointed extra overseas Policemen earlier, but had been held up because of internal PLP objections. Only former Deputy Police Commissioner and PLP MP Wayne Perinchief "swam against the politics of his party'' to demand the overseas officers.

Col. Burch interjected that Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox should not be condemned for carrying out a thorough review of the Police.

At one point as Sen Burgess made his point, Col. Burch, Premier Jennifer Smith's Chief of Staff, said: "You don't get it, do you? We don't care what you think.'' Sen. Burgess said the hospital and the prisons were limping along and the PLP was lamely looking for excuses by blaming the UBP. And he condemned Government for taking front line Customs officers off of 24-hour duty on the entrance to cruise ships.

"They can't continue to put politics before people. We can't continue in the third year -- as of tomorrow -- talking about what someone did for 30 years.

When will the Government realise it has a responsibility to serve the people it says it represents?'' He said he was encouraged by reforms to the Police Complaints Authority, but said there were "slight concerns'' due to the PLP putting politics before people, about the relationship between Government and XL Insurance, which is providing information technology support to schools.

He said by talking about the rebirth of Tourism, Government was acknowledging it had died, yet Tourism Minister David Allen had not been sacked.

Sen. Burgess claimed the PLP misled the people by claiming it could rescue tourism in 100 days when it should have been honest and told them it would be a "slow slug back''.

It was unacceptable that 100 homes had not been yet been built for those in need, and he said planning matters needed "full-time attention'' which would not happen with the sacking of former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

"How can they say they are going to implement the civil service review in a transparent way when we don't know what's in it? If that's not a mockery and an abuse of people, I don't know what is.

"If Government wants to use something in secrecy, don't lie to me about transparency.

"They're trying to play everyday Bermudians for nothing. There is the old adage that if you say something often enough people will believe it.'' PLP Sen. Michael Scott said the people now had a "sense of ownership of the Government. Government is accessible to the people. There are no centres of influence over Government that prevent things going over. Government is in a position to implement radical, necessary change.

"(In this) fundamental, radical, important change, history will recall this will be a challenging period because generally change is feared and resisted.'' The PLP would continue the momentum for change which had swept the UBP from office, he added.

Government had been very successful in pursuing a methodical review of immigration policy, CURE, and labour relations reforms would make the workplace a fairer environment.

The PLP was so concerned about the housing problem it had decided to spend capital on building new homes.

He said the change to remove Customs officers from cruise ships would lead to better intelligence and better interdiction.

Sen. Scott said: "The Opposition is reactive to create fear. The Opposition offers nothing but ravaging Government in a reactionary way. The best way is to ignore it and pursue change in a methodical way.'' He continued: "You have to have a modern Government that can respond efficiently and directly to the needs of the country. No amount of assailing us on that score can be listened to.

"It is the UBP's reactive syndrome from which it must recover or it will fail. We have no baggage to carry but our brawn and our brains to carry out radical change for the people of this country.'' Col. David Burch (left) responding to the UBP Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess, who criticised the PLP for not appointing extra overseas Policeman