advocated the introduction of a school breakfast programme even if for only one day a week so it might ensure that children start the day with a nutritional meal rather than a sugar and carbohydrate ?rush? from chips and candy because their working parents are unable to make them a proper breakfast.

He believes such a move would help students improve their ability to concentrate and study. And on Independence Mr. Simmons urged Government to hold a clear referendum so that, whatever the result, it would be accepted by the people and allow the community to come together again afterwards.

The UBP MP also announced it is his intention to introduce in his own constituency of Pembroke West localised referendums based on a Canadian model.

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister was next to speak and focused on how the Throne Speech sets out to expand economic power within the community through ?relief, regulation and realpolitik.?

Explaining ?relief? in this context, she said: ?We are looking at how we can assist in wealth creation, how to expand the political pie rather than re-distribution.?

Ms Cox touched upon payroll tax relief and additional incentives to businesses, bringing the new economic empowerment zone in North Hamilton under the Industrial Development Act 1968, and she reiterated the intention to provide a reduced 7.75 percent payroll tax rate for hotels and guest houses for two additional months of the year.

The extra months of November and March will increase that benefit to five months of the year instead of three.

In her brief speech, the Finance Minister went on to state other intended items of relief and regulation including custom tax relief for building materials for affordable housing projects and changes to the Public Superannuation Act to allow Government workers who wish to work beyond the retirement age of 65 to do so and have access to their pension. The closest she came to outlining what realpolitik for Bermuda would mean was in reference to the North Hamilton economic empowerment zone and the aim of creating ?a sense of place? with an economic renaissance for the area.

The disappearance of mention of the Social Agenda, Sustainable Development and Independence in the Throne Speech was noted by UBP House Leader .

And he said Bermuda needed to look at how its Westminster-style Parliament conducts its business and seek reforms that have transformed other Parliaments of similar nature.

Specifically, he would like to see the Public Accounts Committee end its private meetings to give more transparency on where and how the country?s money is being spent.

He used the overrun of the new Berkeley Institute project and the $50 million over-budget cost as an example of where such accountability needed to be put into the public realm and he said the current secret arbitration with previous contractors who worked on the project should not be held behind closed doors as taxpayers have a right to know what is happening with their money.

He challenged Government to make public transcripts of the arbitration negotiations once everything had been settled.

Mr. Barritt denied there was any race issue in asking for such information, stating those were questions that would be rightly asked of any administration within a Parliamentary setting, and returning to the race question shortly afterwards added: ?One thing that concerns me on the floor of the House is the posturing and posing ? it very rarely brings prospects for resolution. We need to rise above the conflict that can occur on race.?

Rounding off the debate on the Throne Speech and the Opposition?s reply to it, Premier claimed that for three white UBP MPs to have spoken on race for more than two minutes each was historic.

He said they had led the discussion on race and he compared it to stories related to him by his mother and aunt when they were shy in pressurising UBP members of the past to comment on issues of race.

He said this was a sign of progress. He then stated that just because an issue had not been specifically mentioned in the Throne Speech it did not mean that it had been dropped from Government?s agenda, and he confirmed that the ?indigent? care clinic will be closed but transportation will continue to be provided for its patients.

And he went on: ?I want the Opposition and my own benches to be clear that tonight we are in neutral gear but after tonight we go into high gear and roll out our programme so we can never be called a ?do nothing? Government.?