Newly-independent MP Jamahl Simmons attacked his former party the UBP for ?pushing economic empowerment to the backburner? during the budget debate.

Delivering his maiden speech since quitting last month over allegations that a racist clique sought to oust him from his Pembroke West constituency, Mr. Simmons attributed examples of racial rhetoric to members of his former party.

And he accused it of not laying out any vision on economic empowerment and race relations. He took to his feet telling the House: ?As I am no longer a member of the United Bermuda Party, I am not just here to criticise. I believe that our people expect and deserve more from us than whining, indignation and attack.?

He said Bermuda had work to do in tackling poverty, educating its children and ?providing freedom, justice and equality to our people?.

Mr. Simmons praised Government for delivering a good budget, saying he was pleased at commitments to training, education and an economic empowerment zone in north Hamilton.

Having held the shadow ministry of race relations and economic empowerment before he resigned, he noted that the first portfolio had since been handed to a member of the Senate in Gina Spence-Farmer, with the economic empowerment portfolio dropped by the UBP altogether.

Of his former colleagues in the party he said: ?While they are quick to point the finger at the PLP, listen to what has been said by members of the UBP on race: ?Put up or shut up,? black people need to learn to accept criticism from white people,? ?black people need to stop being so hypersensitive about race,? and ?black people need to toughen up.??

Mr. Simmons, who did not attribute these comments further, continued: ?After all that our people have gone through, someone has the temerity to say we need to toughen up? These comments and the de-emphasis on economic empowerment I think speaks for itself?.

This drew shouts of approval from members of the Progressive Labour Party with Minister for Education Randy Horton calling across the floor at a later point: ?Nice speech!?

Turning to his personal list of recommendations, Mr. Simmons pressed for an English language proficiency test for those working in technical positions and also those dealing with the public. He backed what he described as ?mandatory diversity and cultural sensitivity programs for all new guest workers?.

And Mr. Simmons also called for the Regiment?s student soldier programme to be expanded, with each soldier assessed on literacy and numeracy. Those with aptitudes should be handed full scholarships for training, he said.

Mr. Simmons - who is at 36 the youngest member of the House of Assembly - has previously announced plans to retire from politics at the next election. He concluded what he described as ?my likely final budget speech? by quoting lines from the Maya Angelou poem entitled including: ?You may write me down in history / With your bitter twisted lies / You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I?ll rise.?

Most of the handful of United Bermuda Party members in the chamber at the time showed little reaction to his speech, with several staring straight ahead of them. However, several members of the PLP offered congratulations to Mr. Simmons as he left the chamber. Asked afterwards how he thought the Opposition would react to his words, Mr. Simmons replied: ?I guess they?re not going to invite me for tea.?

He said he recited the poem because: ?Over the past few weeks I have been called a liar and a coward, I have been called a lot of names?.

He said of the resignation of United Bermuda Party Chairman Gwyneth Rawlins a week after him alleging that a white elite controlled the party, and of Maxwell Burgess?s calls for Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert to resign: ?I know I told the truth. I know Gwyneth told the truth, and Maxwell told the truth?.