Deputy Opposition leader Grant Gibbons will today fire the first salvo against the new Government with the UBP's debut reply to the Throne Speech.

Dr. Gibbons -- former Minister of Finance -- will stand on for Opposition leader Pamela Gordon, who is in London to see her daughter Veronica's call to the bar of England and Wales.

And the UBP is likely to come out strong over issues like a strategy to deal with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development probe into offshore jurisdictions, as well as a similar probe run by the European Community.

And the rewrite of relations between Britain and its Overseas Territories will also figure prominently.

The party will also use the opportunity to showcase its direction as it forms its first-ever Opposition after the 26-14 landslide General Election earlier this month.

Neither issue was discussed in the PLP Government's first Throne Speech.

Dr. Gibbons was last night staying tight-lipped over the contents of the UBP counterpunch.

But he said: "It will do a number of things -- it will begin to lay out the role of the Opposition and how we see our contribution to Bermuda as we go forward.

"It will also define the role we think Government must play as we move forward to the future.

"And we'll lay down some of the guiding principles we intend to hold the new Government to -- accountability, transparency, fiscal integrity, common sense and, most importantly, to make sure that the Government will work for all Bermudians.'' Dr. Gibbons added: "We intend to be a very constructive Opposition going forward -- we'll avoid criticism for the sake of criticism.'' Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons said he did not expect any legislation to be tabled.

And he predicted the entire session would be taken up with debate on the Throne Speech.

Mr. Simmons said Premier Jennifer Smith would kick off proceedings with "an overview'' of the Throne Speech.

He added: "Then the Opposition will respond to the Throne Speech and I assume they will come with a written document.'' And then Government Ministers and their Shadow counterparts will trade punches on specific areas of responsibility.

Dr. Gibbons said: "We will begin with the reply to the Throne Speech and during the debates, begin to define what we would consider a new role for the Opposition.''