Speaking at a party celebration at the Fairmont Southampton Resort, the United Bermuda Party chief gave a detailed outline of "the new vision" he said was necessary to "bridge the great divide" between young and old, black and white, rich and poor.

Mr. Furbert said the party had targeted "eight pathways to a visionary Bermuda" with reforms promised in employment, education, housing and health.

The Opposition Leader also promised Parliamentary reform in an effort to make Government more accountable to the voter.

"At this moment in time the people are crying out for change ? they want a new vision under new leadership," Mr. Furbert said.

"It is at such times that inspired leadership is required. Leadership that has the skill to transform vision into reality, and has the courage to inspire us to leap from strength to strength. The state we find ourselves in demands leadership that can see beyond the now into a preferred future."

Mr. Furbert outlined a number of initiatives which included;

Taking politics out of tourism and setting up a Tourism Authority in a bid to revive the failing industry.

Training Bermudians to work in the ever-expanding international financial services sector, which currently employs many guest workers.

Tackling the housing crisis by encouraging the construction of multiple-dwelling units in high-density areas and liberalising height restrictions for special housing initiatives, along with reverse mortgages for seniors.

Reforming education by having licensed teachers in every classroom and regular testing of students

Providing free basic health care and free prescription drugs and eye glasses for senior citizens who cannot afford them.

Investigating means of ensuring that Bermudians who truly need help receive assistance that at least covers the essentials of household expenditure and targeting special groups such as the young.

"We must restore tourism as a major contributor to our economy," Mr. Furbert said.

"That is why we believe that politics must be taken out of tourism by creating a Tourism Authority to manage this great industry.

"My friends it is self-evident that education and training are essential to the sustainable development of Bermuda. The more qualified you are the more you earn. The United Bermuda Party has a plan for education reform."

He went on: "Shelter is one of the most fundamental of human needs. Nearly every social challenge we face can be traced back to inadequate accommodation. The United Bermuda Party Government will embark on a programme to tackle this problem by building more affordable family units, and shelter for single persons.

"Good health is an important pathway to our vision. It is too vital to our well-being to be left exclusively to market forces. Responsible Governments should intervene to ensure that the young, the old and the disadvantaged have access to primary health care."

Mr. Furbert also pledged to stamp out racism "once and for all" and urged for reconciliation between political foes.

"My friends the most divisive factor in Bermudian life and Bermudian politics in particular relates to us pulling ourselves apart, either because of race or just because we have a different political view," he said.

"Racial discrimination emanating from slavery, colonialism and the worst features of capitalism, has driven our people apart. It has become the most dangerous and destructive force in our society today.

"There can be neither peace, nor sustained prosperity in Bermuda until this issue has been fully addressed. We must break the chains of any remaining vestige of racial discrimination in Bermuda once and for all.

"I beg and beseech you this day that we come together as one people. Let forgiveness overflow like a river, starting from this room tonight.

"Let the peace of understanding be with you from henceforth and forever more.

"Let the words of my mouth go forth from this auditorium, from Tucker's Town to Back of Town. From Front Street to Court Street we must build a Bermuda of one people of many races."

Turning to Parliamentary reform, Mr. Furbert said: "I believe that nothing short of a new political culture is necessary to free this country from the political, economic and social stalemate it finds itself in.

"In contemporary Bermuda, appearance masquerades as substance. In the new Bermuda we want to go beyond appearance and deal with the substance. The substance of this new political culture includes beliefs, structures, processes and management styles.

"With respect to beliefs, I repeat that our starting point is that the voter is more enlightened and more aware of his/her rights than ever before.

"We therefore have to restructure our political systems to enable the voter to participate more fully in decision making.

"We also have to make ourselves more accountable to the voter.

"We must have fixed-term elections. Regular referenda will have to be considered, such as a referendum on Independence, on gaming, and on any important issues that could have a profound effect on this country. We need to open up committee meetings, such as the Public Accounts Committee, to the public. We need to clearly separate the Legislature from the Executive.

"We must allow backbenchers to speak openly against the Cabinet without fear of reprisals. We must put measures in the Constitution that protect Parliamentarians from themselves.

"In other words we must ensure that the power is always in the hands of the voters ? we cannot and must not leave it to the 12 disciples that sit in Cabinet.

"The days of 'father knows best' government are over. In the new Bermuda there will be little or no room for the arrogant, autocratic leader."