Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Perinchief responded to accusations that recent tourism figures have been overplayed. Mr. Perinchief pointed out they were put out by civil servants who “have no agenda”.

Former Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert said he hoped the next General Election would see a return to good governance, trust and accountability.

In a farewell speech, Independent MP Jamahl Simmons said his former party the United Bermuda Party needed to do more to win the black vote.

“It’s critical for the country to have an Opposition as an alternative,” said Mr. Simmons. “You have to build trust.”

Mr. Simmons, who has said he will stand down at the next election, reflected on his time as an MP, saying: “It’s an honour and privilege to serve the people of this country.”

Suggesting he may one day return, he added: “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

House Speaker Stanley Lowe hinted a General Election may not be as imminent as many believe by replying: “See you in the fall, Mr. Simmons.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin reminded the House that Premier Ewart Brown had stated in October last year that people were no better off than three years ago.

Government backbencher Glenn Blakeney said a “certain segment of this community” was conspicuous by its absence at the funeral of Dame Lois Browne Evans. He urged people to see through the “smokescreens” of the UBP and said the Opposition should come to the House with strategies that Government could listen to and augment instead of criticising all the time.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox said race was a key issue which needed to be tackled and said people needed to step out of their comfort zones.

She added that electioneering was a “no-go” and that politicians should make sure they deal with key issues of the day.

Education Minister Randy Horton said he had seen “dirty politics” in the past month.

He encouraged residents to show up at 1 p.m. today (SAT) for the renaming of the Royal Naval Field, in Somerset. It will be called the Warren Simmons Field, after the long-serving Somerset captain and Cup Match star. “This is to let people know who their heroes are,” said Mr. Horton.

Dr. Brown wrapped up the last session of the House until November 2 by defending his party’s record. He reflected on heartening first quarter tourism figures, and on the importance of hotel development for the Island, which has not seen a new hotel built for 35 years.

He then went on the attack in relation to allegations of corruption and cronyism levelled at his administration on a number of fronts in recent months, by criticising past United Bermuda Party moves.

Dr. Brown listed these as including “a Minister of Tourism who owned one of the largest hotels on the Island.” And, he continued: “They also at one time had a Minister of Health who was an active surgeon and a Minister of Works and Engineering who was in that business. There was also a Minister of Works and Engineering who rented space to Government in properties that he rented out. There was also a Minister in that Government not too long ago who was the Minister responsible for the Police and the Police purchased their vehicles from his companies.”

Dr. Brown complained that if this had been the case in his party: “We would be hanged. It would be more than pay-to-play. Tar and feathers would be the order of the day. It’s that arrogance of privilege — and I want (UBP Education Minister) Dr. Gibbons to hear it — to say other people are being conflicted or corrupt when they were guilty of the most egregious examples of that kind.”

He also praised steps toward education reform being undertaken by Minister Randy Horton in the light of the damning Hopkins Report into failures within the Island’s public schools.

Dr. Brown went on to make apparent references to Bermuda Housing Corporation-related allegations against himself and other members of the PLP, which Speaker of the House Stanley Lowe has banned MPs from speaking about due to court proceedings.

He blamed recent publicity about this on the influence of a United Bermuda Party strategist retained nine months ago “whom some people call Mr. Filthy-McNasty”.

Dr. Brown said he had anticipated a destructive pre-election campaign, but the Bermudian population is sharp enough not to be scared by this.

In a final dig at dairy owner and Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley’s campaign slogan “the milkman delivers”, Dr. Brown said: “The privileged and the unprivileged on the opposite side (of the House) should know that this Government will stand up for the people of Bermuda and this Government will deliver more than milk.”