Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons blasted Government?s long awaited social programme in the Throne Speech as too little, too late.

He said Government still had no housing strategy and was trying to make up for wasted years in power.

He said: ?I?m astonished that after six years in power, a labour government has the nerve to announce a social agenda.

?They seem to think it?s news that a Government has a responsibility to educate its people, take care of the elderly and to ensure a just and fair society where law and good order prevail.

?The real problem is they haven?t done it. Frankly, their much-hyped social agenda is little more than a smokescreen to distract attention from the corruption, mismanagement and scandals that have plagued this government since 1998.

?It?s very difficult to take this social agenda seriously. What government doesn?t have a social programme?

?This is nothing more than an admission that the PLP?s social programme over the last six years has been an abysmal failure.?

He said the speech had some good ideas, some of which were carry-overs from last year?s Throne Speech while others were in the last UBP platform.

?But overall they seem to miss the big picture,? said Dr. miss the big picture,? said Dr. Gibbons.

?It?s another lost opportunity. For example, in housing they?ve had six years to come to grips with the fundamentals and address the basic issues of affordability and availability that all Bermudians are facing.

?Yet six years later there?s still no coordinated housing strategy ? they have no idea how many units are needed or what?s likely to happen in the housing market longer term.

?They?ve had six years to address the basic issues of poverty and healthcare coverage that challenge our seniors ? they don?t need seminars and assessments ? they need help.

?They?ve had six years to review our criminal justice system and to develop a strategy for youth violence, drugs and crime and what do we get?

?A national conference and an admission that the NDC isn?t working and should quietly disappear into the Health Department.

?Now they expect us to believe a few seminars, summits and conferences will get the job done.

?It?s mostly promises and we know what the PLP government?s record is like on promises.

?And by the way, according to the Premier, this social agenda will take up to ten years to accomplish. How can the public not be sceptical??