At its third anniversary at the helm of government, the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party (PLP) is cruising steadily onward in its mission to create a "new Bermuda".

Observers differ on the question of performance. The constant barrage of criticism started shortly after the party's landslide victory at the polls in November 1998, allowing for a very short honeymoon period.

While the criticism continues, the relationship between the PLP and the international business community has softened considerably. Gone are the days of "expat CEO", who announced in a February, 2000, letter that the pronouncements and policies of this country's leaders will soon lead to "that great sucking sound of all international business leaving Bermuda".

From the January 4 holiday to oversized cars, travel and other expenditure, to its handling of post September 11 realities, the awarding of government contracts and the premier's visibility, the PLP has come under microscopic scrutiny in all of its three years in power.

Political scientist Walton Brown told The Royal Gazette that the criticism should not detract from what has been actually accomplished and it could not be said that the Government has no vision.

Such statements are derided by people like UBP campaign chairman David Sullivan who, in his latest letter to this newspaper's Editor, accused a reporter of being the PLP's "spin doctor" for using the word "achievements" in an article on the most recent Throne Speech.

Mr. Sullivan argued that instead of delivering promised results on tourism, housing and relief for small businesses, the PLP had delivered higher land tax, more government spending and a budget deficit. "What achievements?" he scoffed.

Mr. Brown insists, however, that the PLP has made "steady, but not flashy progress on a number of very important policy issues, much of which is obscured by other aspects of the political process such as the visibility of the government in general and the visibility of the premier in particular."

While he agreed that a leader's visibility is important as "part and parcel of being a politician" and the need to communicate with the people, he said that he believed that the Government did have a vision and clear plans as to how it was going to be achieved.

"In terms of giving access to opportunities and in terms of looking at Bermuda getting more integrated into the wider area of the Caribbean - all that requires tremendous vision. People may disagree but that doesn't mean there isn't a vision."

Mr. Brown said he was impressed by the Governments' initiatives in e-commerce and affordable housing and like many others he sang the praises of Paula Cox for the new long term residents' policy.

"The problem is this is not being appreciated by the public. If you say the Government is doing nothing that's not true. If you say they are not doing what you would like them to do that's an altogether different matter."

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, perhaps the most visible and the most criticised of cabinet ministers, laughed when told this newspaper was examining the PLPs' first three years in office.

"We could fill your paper with what we've achieved," he said."Lives are better in that many Bermudians, who had been previously excluded, have been thrown into the mainstream of the economy," he said when asked to explain himself.

He pointed to the awarding of the contract to build the new senior secondary school at Berkeley to little known contractor ProActive as a leading example of progress in the mission to empower and include.

While that may sound as a self serving statement, a random unscientific survey of locals yesterday afternoon found similar sentiments.

"In the past, we got kicked to the kerb," said Michael Santucci, a carpenter about to start work at the Berkeley site.

"At least Bermudians in the trades are getting more focus." Not everyone is so upbeat and there are some signs that some supporters were expecting more from the first PLP Government.

"Are we so tired after just three short years ?" Premier Jennifer Smith asked delegates at the party's annual conference. The premier reminded her audience that the new Bermuda was still a work in progress.

While Mr.Scott lauds the Berkley contract as being historic - "ProActive is the first small Bermuda company to lead a major project" - controversy swirled for weeks over the circumstances surrounding the contract.

And long time party functionary, Laverne Furbert, said that while she accepted that three quarters of the party's platform had been fulfilled, some rank and file supporters were feeling left out.

"I feel like the PLP is in power and I am out of work," she told The Royal Gazette. Ms Furbert resigned her position as the chairperson of the party's Hamilton parish branch two weeks ago in order to be in a position to offer "constructive criticism" in the media.

"We expected to be working and be a part of the growth of this community," she said. "I don't think the feelings I have are alien to most Bermudians."

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons is of the view that the PLP has "squandered" the goodwill that greeted them in the initial days.

"The truth of the matter is that they have not covered themselves in glory. . ." And issues like affordable housing, dismal tourism results and the opportunities at the former baselands had not been resolved in any "meaningful and thorough" way.

"In many respects they over-promised and under delivered," he said.

"It's hard to say," Dr. Gibbons replied when asked whether he agreed that more Bermudians felt empowered and included in the mainstream.

Still Mr. Scott describes the impact of the first PLP Government as "seismic". And he reminded The Royal Gazette that prior to the 1998 General Election "the UBP was saying 8,000 jobs would be lost."

And that, Deborah Lombardo, importer of Mexican pottery, would agree is a point well worth making.

"Now, the fear factor of the black-white issue is resolved. People know the economy is not going to collapse," she said. In future, she said, the electorate will vote on performance rather than fear.