Grant Gibbons fired the first salvo in what's likely to be a long election campaign when he unveiled "the new UBP" on Thursday.

Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Gibbons conceded that under the United Bermuda Party, the ISland's economic miracle had excluded people, many of them black. He added: "There is unfinished business between black and white Bermudians".

These were necessary admissions, especially for a white leader from a privileged background, and one that the UBP had to tackle if it wanted to be seriously considered for election to government in the wake of its 1998 defeat.

Dr. Gibbons also took a series of well-aimed swipes at the Progressive Labour Party Government, cataloguing its mistakes and failures from its first four years in power.

In doing so, Dr. Gibbons was able to capitalise on the dissatisfaction with the current Government which is obvious to all except perhaps a very small inner circle in the Cabinet office.

But giving voice to the public dissatisfaction with the present government is one thing; persuading people to actually change their votes is another.

To accomplish that the UBP cannot simply offer reactions to Government mistakes and policies, but must show that it is thinking seriously about how it can lead the community to change and grow, both economically and socially.

Dr. Gibbons also has to show that he can gather a team of effective and capable candidates around him, because this is a parliamentary election, not a presidential one.

On policy, Dr. Gibbons made a reasonably good start, although clearly a good deal more flesh has to be put on the bones.

A Freedom of Information Act, while a reaction to the absurd secrecy of the Smith Government, is a welcome and long overdue step, as is a Whistleblower's Act. Widening democracy through open parliamentary committee meetings and absentee ballots are both important and obvious moves, as is requiring open tendering in every Government department.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Dr. Gibbons was extremely innovative on the economy, where he proposed creating a new Ministry of Finance and Budget and a separate Ministry of Tourism and Economic Development. At the same time, he repeated the UBP's promise of a private-public Tourism Authority.

Perhaps most importantly, the UBP plans an Office of Economic Empowerment, to "develop practical and innovative ways to provide a hand up to those with the will to succeed but not the means".

Clearly, that particular idea needs fleshing out, and the UBP will have to explain to the public exactly what it intends and how it will differ from CURE, the Small Business Development Corporation and so on. But the UBP has recognised that it will only regain power if it can demonstrate that it is honestly committed to narrowing the wealth gap between whites and blacks.

On education, the promise of international accreditation for graduation is long overdue and will improve accountability within the schools,on crime the promise of life without parole for capital crimes will be welcomed by many concerned about violent crime and will be "read meat" for the UBP's base support.

This is a start and Dr. Gibbons and his party will have to do more to persuade people that it is a new party with new ideas. But he made a good start.

He and UBP chairman have also shown they can attract a very diverse group of people as potential candidates. There is a caveat, however. The group on the stage were relatively unknown, and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, a little name recognition goes a long way in politics and if this really is the team with which Dr. Gibbons plans to fight the election, they are going to have to canvass very hard to overcome that hurdle.