The United Bermuda Party made its final appeal to voters yesterday after the Progressive Labour Party had urged voters not to take a "step backwards" by allowing the Opposition back into power.

Both parties put on a united front in the final hours of a tight but lengthy election race.

The UBP's full slate of 36 candidates showed up at a Press conference on the steps of the House of Assembly yesterday to hammer home their message that their party had the best chance to unify the country and give Bermuda a government of integrity.

Party leader Grant Gibbons said that their campaign had "put people before party and focused on what matters most".

"We have taken the high road because our fellow Bermudians expect and want that from political leaders," he said.

He repeated the party's promises that it would deliver a better Bermuda, if elected.

"We will restore people's faith in the ability of government to operate with integrity, fairness and openness in the interests of all Bermudians," he said.

"We will lead our country in a way that brings us together, unites us in solving the problems we face and gives all Bermudians equal say in Bermuda's future.

"The new United Bermuda Party has been transformed. Our vision of the future is clear.

"Our intentions and plans have been clearly laid out. The members of the new United Bermuda Party and team stand here today all ready and eager to form an inclusive, fair and honest government that would make every Bermudian proud."

Candidate Gwyneth Rawlins urged voters to follow the example of former South African president Nelson Mandela and focus on the future. "We cannot change the past but we can make tomorrow better," she said. "Bermudians face a clear choice tomorrow - they can choose to be prisoners of the past or they can support a fresh start with the new United Bermuda Party.

"Your choice is for the future not the past. Not what happened 30,40 or even 50 years ago, but what's going to happen tomorrow. Forget the past? Never. Look backward? Certainly. Make a better future? Absolutely. Let that backward glance be the driving force that pushes us forward. Let's create opportunities for all Bermudians."

"We do care about the other 45 percent," said Kenneth Bascome the candidate for St. George's North.

"We do care about young black males. And what I'm saying about Bermuda today is, given the opportunity to take this country forward, you will see a vision come to fruition.

"And we will see that people who look like all of us have the opportunity to share in the economic pie."

However the thousands who thronged the PLP's rally at Bernard Park on Tuesday were implored not to take a "step backwards" by allowing the United Bermuda Party back in.

The atmosphere was electric as political stars and electoral newcomers took to the stage to water the grass roots and rally undecided voters. Do you want to wake up on Thursday morning with Grant Gibbons as your Premier or with Wayne Furbert as your Transport Minister?" asked Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown.

The answer from gathered thousands was: "No!"

"We must not go back, we must go forward," he said. "Have you ever heard of any people on the planet who have voted their way back onto the plantation? No? Then you do not want to be the first."

The largest response however was reserved for Warwick North East candidate Dale Butler who came on dancing to the music and shouted: "It is your business to keep the PLP in government and a Butler in the house."

Housing Minister David Burch said the election was "historic". "For the first time in history my vote and your vote is worth the same as David Gibbons', the same as John Swan's, the same as all those people in Paget, Spanish Point and Tucker's Town," he said. "They say that I don't have a sense of humour and that I'm too serious all the time. Well, let me tell you. The idea of a new United Bermuda Party sounds to me like the new Clayhouse Inn. You've got a big sign on it but when you went inside nothing had changed."

Pembroke South East candidate and VSB court reporter Ashfield DeVent told people to be sceptical of the media.

"I heard that on Thursday they are going to bring out a special edition of the Mid Ocean News," he said.

"Who knows what they are going to say on election day but the first thing to say is don't believe the hype."

He said the PLP's first election victory in 1998 was a moment when Bermudians "ignited a flame of freedom and a flame of democracy."

"No water can out this fire. No babble in the newspapers can out this fire. No two Swans (Kim and Sir John) can out this fire and there sure as hell isn't going to be no new (Rocky) Fox who is going to out this fire."

Hamilton West candidate Rev. Wilbur Lowe said it was necessary to make the election a matter of prayer because "God answers knee mail". He criticised UBP candidate Rev. Leonard Santucci for "stooping so low" and "allowing two preachers to be dragged through the media in a cat and dog fight" over a controversial PLP radio broadcast that some considered offensive.

Community Affairs and Sport Minister Randolph Horton asked: "What is new about the new UBP? If they have got to call John Swan to come and help them then what is new about them? If they have to bring Louise Jackson out of the cobwebs what is new about them?"

Speaker of the House of Assembly Stanley Lowe complained he had been "muzzled" as he watched the PLP score an "A plus" in their role as Government. "Over the last few days you've seen the smoke screens go up in the media. Don't let it blur your vision. The journey is not complete. We're going to the promised land and we've got to keep marching. There is no turning back."

Warwick West candidate Chris Furbert said, even though things under the PLP government "might have seemed a bit tough, that is nothing compared to what the UBP put this country through for 35 years. "This is about backwards and forwards. The UBP wanted then and wants now to represent a minority of the people in this country."