the Throne Speech to reveal part of the Progressive Labour Party's election platform.

Calling Government's speech nothing more than an election platform riddled with "vague promises'', Mr. Wade said: "I am left with no choice but to put forward a sample of what a PLP Throne Speech would have contained.'' And he listed, in the House of Assembly, 10 key issues the party would have addressed.

Mr. Wade said a PLP Government would take steps to generate more jobs in the public sector. And through tax incentives, it would encourage businesses to either keep Bermudians employed or to begin new business activity.

A PLP Government, he said, would also seek to restore tourism by: Promoting the Island aggressively in Europe and other potential markets such as Japan; Introducing cooperative or joint venture charter flights from Europe; Phasing and coordinating the closure of hotels; Offering further tax incentives to hotels during the winter season; Adding tourism to the curriculum in primary and secondary schools; Developing a more flexible cruise ship policy, allowing six regular weekly cruise liners; Reducing passenger departure taxes on a seasonal basis; and Increasing funding for overseas advertising and launching an in-depth review of advertising content.

Mr. Wade stressed that in an interview with The Royal Gazette he did not suggest that the airport departure tax be abolished, but reduced on a seasonal basis.

He said the PLP would also continue to consult with the international business community to strengthen this pillar of the economy.

He said the PLP would also: Set up a separate unemployment fund and "proceed more rapidly'' with an unemployment benefit scheme; Pressure the implementation of the Archibald Drug Strategy, with special emphasis on the development of local community-based programmes such as Sandys Against Drugs, Ord Road/Spring Hill Against Drugs, and Warwick Community Against Drugs.

Consult "fully'' with the sporting community, create a list of parameters for the continued development at National Stadium, with funds allocated in every budget to see it completed; and Set up a review of the entire tax system, with a view to making it more equitable and identifying new forms of taxation.

A White Paper on education, Mr. Wade said, would also be produced, setting out the party's policy and plans for education at all levels in Bermuda.

"A PLP Government will further limit work categories that are open for non-Bermudians, with particular emphasis on categories where abuses of immigration regulations are continuing to occur,'' he said.

"A PLP Government will expand the use of the Labour Advisory Council to encourage more peaceful industrial relations and will use its unique position of having close ties with Bermuda's union leaders and its connections with employers to usher in a period of industrial peace.'' Mr. Wade said the party would also look into a new system of "permanent residency'' -- not linked to any form of Bermudian status or voting rights -- that will provide security of tenure to long-term residents "who have made a contribution'' to the country.

"This concept,'' he explained, "will be similar to the `Green card' system in place in the United States and promised in our 1989 Platform.

"At the same time a strictly enforced moratorium on the granting of Bermudian status will be maintained with a view to all citizenship issues being resolved when Bermuda ultimately decides on its future constitutional position.'' Full Throne Speech reply -- Page 4.