The Bermuda Industrial Union yesterday urged its members to support its political arm in the general election.

With union members clothed in green PLP shirts and waving green PLP flags behind him, President Chris Furbert said at BIU headquarters: "The general council and executive board of the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) urge its members to vote for the Progressive Labour Party in the general election to be held December 18.

"Members should be aware that in 1946 our first president Dr. E.F. Gordon, emphasised the need for a 'political arm' to make certain that legislation affecting the interests of the union received a fair hearing in Parliament."

He continued: "Since that time, we believe the PLP has been the only party that can be depended upon to push the goals and objectives of our union.

"For this reason, we urge our membership and Bermuda generally to cast their vote for the PLP on December 18."

Mr. Furbert said the BIU had fought for Bermuda's workers to get improved benefits and for basic human rights.

He said since the PLP formed Government in 1998, it had raised Bermuda's gross domestic product from $3 billion to more than $5 billion, a 67 percent increase.

The BIU president then turned to criticising the UBP for "empty promises".

He criticised their payroll tax elimination plan for those who earn less than $42,000 a year, saying the UBP was the party which implemented the plan when they were in Government.

Mr. Furbert also lashed out at former Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert, claiming he incorrectly accused the PLP of fudging tourism numbers.

He claimed Mr. Furbert was being untruthful and said air arrivals and cruise ship arrivals are up and hotel occupancy is on the rise.

According to this newspaper's records, however, Mr. Wayne Furbert, a well-known member of the church community has only criticised Faith-Based Tourism and repeatedly attacked Andre Curtis' handling of the initiative.

He claimed the true figure of tourists coming to Mr. Curtis' events in 2007-08 is probably no more than 100. Mr. Curtis has claimed the number is roughly 1,500 but repeatedly refused to back up his claim.

Mr. Curtis is contracted to receive $400,000 of taxpayers' money to run faith-based tourism in 2007-08, and must organise ten events, luring a total of 2,200 visitors.

Wayne Furbert was contacted for a response but did not respond by press time.

While urging support for the PLP, Chris Furbert admnitted Government's record was not perfect. "In all fairness, to say this Government is making a lot of errors, on a scale of one to ten, I'd give them a seven-and-half, eight," he said.