Lingering racial disparities in earnings and opportunities could well become a flashpoint of the election campaign.

The PLP have already unveiled the Workforce Equity Act which will require companies to make sure their companies reflect the racial demographics of the wider workforce of which black Bermudians make up 47 percent.

It will also give Government powers to investigate how employers go about hiring and firing and promoting and paying their workers.

Firms with low numbers of black Bermudians who refuse to mend their ways face fines of up to $50,000.

However companies will not be forced to promote those who are not qualified.

The UBP has rejected this approach but recognises inequities remain, most noticeably in the fact that blacks continue to lag in terms of income and rank on the corporate ladder.

The party has pledged to boost education which they say is the key to empowerment and the party will look at boosting the Human Rights Commission's ability to investigate and act on complaints.

The UBP will also create a Workforce Cure Board to ensure fairness and opportunity in the workplace, such as matching Bermudian talent with jobs as they become available, and set up a committee to hear complaints of unfairness.

Both parties have promised to boost educational opportunities.

The UBP has promised free bus and ferry transport for all students, breakfast for every needy child and an expansion of Government pre-schools.

Bursaries will be offered to at-risk students who could benefit from schooling abroad.

The UBP plans an international business learning centre at Bermuda College to give industry the skilled workers it needs while a national technical institute will also be set up at the College.

Grants for third year Bermuda College students and lifelong learning grants to allow people to retrain have also been promised by the UBP.

The PLP has pledged to reform the public education system. There will be ongoing training for principals with focus placed on instructional leadership and annual performance standards for each school to measure student academic growth.

Government will implement technical and vocational education in schools so that students will have the option of obtaining both the Bermuda School Certificate and certification in a trade.

The PLP have also promised free tuition for all Bermudians enrolled in an accredited programme at Bermuda College while the value of the Bermuda Government Scholarship and Mature Student Awards will be increased and more Government Bursary Awards will be made available.