One of Bermuda's leading pastors yesterday urged political parties to honour Dame Lois Browne Evans by putting their differences aside and tackling "abject poverty" plaguing the Island.

In a passionate speech at Dame Lois' funeral, Bishop Vernon Lambe called for a joint Parliamentary session in which Progressive Labour Party and United Bermuda Party members could work together to make Bermuda a better place.

He said such a session would be a fitting celebration for Dame Lois, whom he described as a "remarkable and renowned woman".

Bishop Lambe, the National Overseer of the First Church of God, said: "There are still people today living in abject poverty.

"There are social matters in this country that transcend party politics. Lay down our political distinctiveness and come together on behalf of the people of Bermuda.

"We don't need to have party success, we need people success. The time has come to put people and their needs over politics and partisan.

"Let us resolve to live out these creeds of her legacy. Let us resolve to make Bermuda the place that it's meant to be.

"Let us say that Bermuda will be a better place tomorrow because of what we have heard today."

Paying tribute to Dame Lois, Bishop Lambe said: "God laid his hands upon a woman, a certain woman, for the task of liberation of a nation. She was a woman of purpose and destiny . . . a woman of extreme and distinct capabilities."

Addressing the congregation, he added: "You are where you are because she had a vision for justice."

Bishop Lambe also called for a curriculum to be developed so that young people could learn about Dame Lois.

"They don't know that there was a price to be paid for freedom and that the woman who fought that cause was the woman known to us as Dame Lois Browne Evans," he said.