Evidence the United Bermuda Party is on an election footing has come from Party leader Wayne Furbert stating he senses a wind of change blowing through the Island?s political landscape. And he feels Premier Ewart Brown?s support within the community is not as all-embracing as some pollsters would have the public believe.

?The Government is tired despite the change in leadership and they will have a tougher time winning votes than we will,? said Mr. Furbert as he addressed the UBP?s annual meeting in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute last night.

He admitted the elevation of Dr. Brown as PLP leader had given Government an aura of greater strength than it had enjoyed under Alex Scott, but he claimed this projected strength was already dissipating as the country assessed ?the agenda? of the new leader.

And he said an election now would bring a far closer result that many predict. ?There is a great block of resistance to Ewart Brown and he will find winning the support of more people than he?s got right now to be very tough indeed,? said Mr. Furbert.

?People should note that his predecessors, Alex Scott and Dame Jennifer Brown, scored favourable ratings in the range of 80 percent following their elections. Dr. Brown?s favourability is shockingly flat by comparison. There are many people who question his character, his trustworthiness and the nature of his ambition.

?And many take exception to his politics of division and his manipulations. He is the man who polarises in the name of unity and the man who insults in the name of reconciliation.?

Mr. Furbert told Party members a growing number of Bermudians feel alienated and excluded from the policies of Government and he had stepped forward to ?do something to bring the people of Bermuda together as one, irrespective of race, class or creed?.

He went on: ?Research tells me large numbers of undecided voters are undecided because they are not happy with the Government. This represents our big opportunity. They are listening; they are watching and they are ready to be persuaded.?

What the UBP can offer the people was to be found in education, safe streets, housing, meeting the needs of the hard-pressed and seniors and ensuring an open, accountable and responsive Government, said Mr. Furbert.

He contrasted what he sees as Government?s failures with the goals of the UBP. ?We have prepared the ground for our ideas in recent months by keeping public attention focused on issues we consider important to the country?s well being,? he said.

?We continue to call for a referendum on Independence to end the uncertainty by the Government?s cowardly handling of the issue.

?We helped turn back the ludicrous decision to build a new hospital in the Botanical Gardens. We underlined Government failings on crime by putting forward sensible get-tough proposals to restore law and order.

?We have been relentless in our criticism of the PLP?s astonishing failure to deliver housing to the people. ?We have pushed the Government to make education reform an urgent national priority and have kept a close watch on Government spending, including huge layouts for overseas travel by Ministers, the Berkeley fiasco and the growing number of special advisors to the Premier.?

And injecting a moment of humour, reflected on the controversial House of Assembly exchange between Dr. Brown and the UBP?s Dr. Grant Gibbons two weeks ago, when he said: ?We continue to ask continue to ask questions about PLP fundraising, even at the risk of personal injury.?

Mr. Furbert believes the efforts of the UBP had kept Government more honest, open and accountable ?than they cared to be?. And hinting at behind-the-scenes election preparations he mentioned the ?low-level advertising campaign? telling the public what the UBP stands for and promising more in coming months.

According to Mr. Furbert, Government supporters are concerned ?about the agenda of their new leader? which he contrasted with the UBP?s ?readiness not only to win the next election but provide quality alternative leadership to this country?.

He said: ?Elections in Bermuda are not won on the basis of one?s popularity or eloquence.

?Elections are won on the basis of the character, integrity and competence of a leader, the platform of a party and the slate of candidates. On all fronts the UBP is distinctly out front in every regard.?