Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Michael Misick urged Government to empower the people economically at the Progressive Labour Party's banquet on Saturday night.

And he encouraged the PLP to be all inclusive and operated on principles of integrity, transparency and openness.

He told the packed audience at the Hamilton Princess: "You must use your political power to ensure the majority of your people are empowered economically.

"You may have to pull some of your brothers and sisters along, but you must do this.

"At the end of the day economic power is real power."

He suggested boosting credit on favourable terms to help maximise entrepreneurial talents and making sure all Bermudians could climb every step of the socio-economic ladder.

He said how long the PLP stayed in power was in its own hands but they key was to promise deliverable goals and make sure they were achieved.

Mr. Misick's centre-left Progressive National Party took power in August after the governing party lost two by-elections forced after allegations of electoral irregularities at the general election in April.

His party, like the PLP, is committed to independence from Britain and is also taking a slow approach to reaching that goal although he said Turks and Caicos would be pushing to have Bermuda's high levels of autonomy.

Mr. Misick, 37, pointed out the huge cultural ties between his islands, which had been settled by Bermudians, and he said the similarities continued.

He said: "Front Street, Grand Turk mirrors Front Street here. We may have come over on different trips but we are in the same boat now."

His islands, which have a total population of 25,000, and Bermuda could work together on education, environmental protection, tourism and cultural exchanges said Mr. Misick.

He lauded the PLP's efforts in challenging telecommunications monopolies and introducing landmark telecommunications legislation.

And he said it was important citizens mastered technology as globalisation took hold.