The United Bermuda Party yesterday named April 1, 2008, as the date it plans to eliminate payroll tax for people earning less than $42,000 per year.

Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley also vowed to break ground on the first homes for affordable rent and commence building Warwick Police Station within the first 100 days of a UBP Government, should the party win Tuesday's General Election.

Also at a press conference yesterday, Mr. Dunkley said he would telephone Premier Ewart Brown to discuss how the pair can "tone down the rhetoric" which has blighted the run-up to the election.

He said the UBP's 100-day plan included:

¦ break ground on the first homes for affordable rent

¦ eliminate payroll tax for those earning less than $42,000 on April 1

¦ immediately start recruiting Police to increase number of officers on the streets

¦ open St. George's Police Station by April 1 and break ground on Warwick Police Station

¦ set up an office of economic empowerment

¦ restore open tendering for Government contracts

¦ start allocating 20 percent of all Government contracts in construction and supplies to small businesses

¦ reopen the Medical Clinic

¦ take steps towards appointing a non-political Attorney General

¦ release reports kept secret from the public and introduce Freedom of Information legislation

¦ strengthen the Office of the Auditor General

¦ repeal immigration legislation which is said to discriminate against Bermudians married to non-Bermudians

¦ make GPS optional for taxi drivers and give them fuel rebates by April 1

¦ institute free bus and ferry passes for all schoolchildren.

Unveiling the list, Mr. Dunkley said: "The United Bermuda Party has put forward a broad platform to improve the lives of people as we move into the future. To make it happen, we must set priorities to get things done."

Mr. Dunkley's predecessor Wayne Furbert reiterated the UBP's pledge for an open Government.

"When the Progressive Labour Party came to power, it promised the people of Bermuda a Government that was transparent, that was eager to stand in the sunshine of public scrutiny," he said.

"Somewhere along the way, the PLP discarded that promise."

Mr. Furbert said more questions than answers remained on issues including:

¦ alleged awarding of contracts to friends

¦ alleged manipulation of statistics on tourism and graduation rates

¦ unaccounted funds given to faith-based tourism boss Andre Curtis, Dr. Brown's political campaigner.