The United Bermuda Party will campaign on building 100 homes a year for five years and providing free nursery care for the downtrodden at the coming election.

But UBP Chairman Shawn Crockwell admits his party has more to do in order to win the trust of the Island's underclass, who he says have been forgotten by the Progressive Labour Party.

He told The Royal Gazette: "What I have found on the campaign trail is there are people the PLP is supposed to be representing single mothers, black, who are struggling, working in hotels who are finding it hard to make ends meet they feel ignored and invisible by their own Government.

They feel they haven't had their needs met in nine years and they are torn.

"I will have to admit they are not yet convinced that the United Bermuda Party is offering what they need, that's why I am now talking with my colleagues to say we have to put out our message of hope, what we would do to ensure their burden is alleviated because that's what it all comes down to the quality of life of Bermudians.

"Not all Bermudians are worrying about who had what type of privilege, we all know the history, we know there have been injustices.

"But moving forward, what Bermudians want to know is 'can you come up with a policy which will help me survive week to week and put food on the table?'

"It might sound oxymoronic in a country like Bermuda, but some people are struggling to put food on the table. They don't know how to pay the rent. They are three or four months in arrears.

"They have landlords threatening to evict. People are losing their children to Family Services because they are unable to provide and they are saying 'where is their Government?'.

"The PLP has failed to address the needs of the people they claim to stand for."

He said the UBP would crack on with emergency houses and affordable rental units.

He said private/public deals merely led to a cut of profit for the private sector but the Government had a surplus which should be used to alleviate the burden of the people.

At the last election, the UBP had promised one 100 new homes every year for five years," said Mr. Crockwell.

"That is still the plan."

He added: "We will provide single parents with free day care, because it's almost $10,000 a year to put your child in decent day care. It is too much of a financial burden."

Applicants would be subject to a means test while the UBP also want to build another Government-run day care centre to cut costs for hard-pressed parents.

"We have talked about lowering taxes for individuals who fall below a certain income bracket. We continue to focus on policies that will benefit the underclass.

"We are not promising them they will all of a sudden go from one type of lifestyle to another. We are trying to lighten the burden. That's all people are asking for."

Asked why the public should trust his party he said its experiences in Opposition had changed the UBP and forced it to stand up for the downtrodden and be the watchdog over Government.

"Obviously we can't prove we will do it until we have an opportunity to do it."

He said the UBP had lost its way in the late 1990s and become consumed with self interest.

"That's what's happening now with the current Government. They are so focused on their own interests and internal interests and who's going to be the Premier and who is going to get what that they have forgotten why they were put there in the first place.

"After two terms, when you look back and ask yourself what have they done to help Bermudians, when you come up with a resounding 'nothing' then you have to go back and re-evaluate their role."

Mr. Crockwell said the election was most likely going to again be a tight race although his party had the potential to take up to 21 seats.

On any night of the week 90 percent of the UBP candidates were out canvassing to build up trust.

"I really think this is the most important election for the last 50 years when we see a growing divide," he said.

"Most people are dissatisfied with that, they want to see the country coming together and collectively resolve our issues. But right now there is a growing division based on racial lines and political lines which doesn't serve this country at all."

He said the UBP would be putting out a message of hope.

"It will be a close election and that highlights how well the United Bermuda Party has recovered from a very difficult first few months of the year.

"It also highlights a gross miscalculation on the part of the Premier when he did not call an election back in February or March.

"No one knows why he didn't maybe because he hasn't been able to get his affairs in order as a party."

He said the PLP might spring a late Immigration clampdown in order to shore up its vote, even though work permits had risen under the PLP and a purge of expats would alienate the business community.

Mr. Crockwell said his party was keen to boost economic opportunity and he pointed out that the Government had taken up the UBP's economic empowerment zone policy for North Hamilton.

"We have stated that 20 percent of Government contracts will go toward small businesses.

"But this is not Zimbabwe where you can take property from Tucker's Town and give it to another segment. We have to be pragmatic as we move forward.

"Every group must play a role in economic empowerment you cannot antagonise whites and then expect them to hire your students."