PLP shadow Health Minister Renee Webb demanded to know why the UBP talked about forming partnerships and yet never gave the Opposition credit for coming up with good ideas.

"Why do they get upset when they steal our ideas?'' Ms Webb said she had no trouble giving praise, when deserved, to Government and she welcomed the direction taken on telecommunications.

She also applauded Government moves to reconsider protectionist policies that no longer served Bermuda's long-term needs.

Ms Webb went on to question the Budget Statement's claim that nearly 13,000 jobs -- just under 40 percent of the total number of jobs in Bermuda -- were dependent on international companies expenditure.

She wanted to know how the figure was arrived at and how these people benefited from international business.

Ms Webb also attacked Government's claim to be good economic managers.

"My fear is that the PLP would inherit a bankrupt Government.'' She said the real debt of Bermuda had not been reported.

Ms Webb said the PLP represented almost 50 percent of the electorate and it was insulting for Government members to make out the Budget Reply should be trashed.

"We can govern the country,'' she declared.

She added the PLP over the years had had to manage with fewer resources than the UBP, but still won 18 seats at the last election.

Minister of Management and Technology John Barritt thanked Ms Webb for her complimentary remarks on the handling of telecommunications.

He hoped she would "walk the walk'' -- as well as "talk the talk'' -- when the time came to proceed.

Mr. Barritt picked out areas in the Budget Reply which disappointed him.

He cited one passage, headed the "PLP offers plans not promises'', which read: "The intent of a PLP government is to introduce plans and programmes so that Bermudians can compete and win in the Bermuda economy.'' But, said Mr. Barritt, he turned the page only to find a quotation from the late US President John F. Kennedy.

"Unfortunately I don't see the plans. I see platitudes,'' Mr. Barritt added.

Elsewhere, said Mr. Barritt, the PLP talked about being committed to economic and social justice.

"But we are not told how economic and social justice will be achieved.'' Mr. Barritt also urged the Opposition to state clearly how they proposed to adjust the income disparity between the international business sector and the hospitality industry.

"This country is built on prudence. I would caution anyone about writing blank cheques.'' Mr. Barritt continued by voicing bafflement at another passage in the Budget Reply, which read: "Governments create or change markets all the time by stimulating demand, but they must take the initiative. Changing the marketplace means more than restructuring the economy. It means also strengthening the community.'' Said Mr. Barritt: "I can't for the life of me understand this.'' Mr. Barritt went on to implore Bermudians not to get left behind in the technological revolution sweeping the world.

He urged people, particularly parents, to spend money on computers, not televisions.

Mr. Barritt said Bermuda had much to be thankful for, including a Government which had not saddled the country with a large debt burden. This contrasted with other jurisdictions.

"Bermudians should be grateful for the Island's stability and our ability to travel like we do.

"While everything is not perfect, we are pointed in the right direction and the right path.'' Shadow Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Alex Scott claimed Government had lost its way in the Budget debate.

He urged Government to focus on its Budget Statement -- not the Budget Reply, which would not be put into effect.

Mr. Scott said the Budget failed to embody a key factor: protection for Bermudians.

He added he knew of Bermudians who felt squeezed out, phased out, kicked out or left out.

Local musicians, for instance, felt squeezed out by the economy.

Mr. Scott said the Budget was not a "sweetheart one'' -- it was a "vicious'' document, one of benign neglect.

"Bermudians know this is not a friendly instrument,'' he declared, adding Government should be ashamed of what was not included in it.

Mr. Scott took a potshot at Premier David Saul for acting like a "sniggering schoolboy'' over the Budget Reply.

"I felt like spanking him and sending him to the corner.'' Mr. Scott feared Bermuda would be divided between those who had computers and those who had not learned how to use them.

He was disappointed there was no major initiative in the Budget Statement to drive young people to the fore of the technological era.

Like Ms Webb, Mr. Scott queried the Budget Statement's claim that 13,000 jobs were dependent on international business.

"Are they skilled persons? Is this the trickle-down effect? Are they real careers?'' Turning to the Police, Mr. Scott said Government claimed the Service was doing a good job.

But, said Mr. Scott, Bermuda would be better served if it was policed by Bermudians.

He also called for statistics on drugs to be produced. Only then would Bermuda have a clear picture of the war on crime.

Despite Police claims that crime was going down, Bermudians did not feel safer, said Mr. Scott.

Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness ridiculed PLP claims that the UBP were stealing their ideas.

"Why would the UBP wish to imitate the PLP who have been losers for 30 years?'' Mr. Edness said it was arrogant for the PLP to cast itself as the Government-in-waiting.

This was an assumption that Bermudians would elect them into office.

Mr. Edness said the Opposition should have used the Budget Reply to enunciate some of their policies.

Instead, the document consisted of "words, words, words,'' and platitudes with nothing specific or concrete.

Mr. Edness went on to say there were glaring factual errors in the Budget Reply.

For instance, it was not true to suggest Government never consulted international business over the proposed Proceeds of Crime Bill.

In fact, government had approached insurance and reinsurance companies, and financial institutions, added Mr. Edness.

"The business community understands that this legislation is going to be good for Bermuda.'' Mr. Edness said he hoped the PLP would apologise for misleading the country.

He also said it was incorrect to state the Police Cadet Training Programme had been cancelled.

It had been suspended because it was not serving the purpose it had been designed for, said Mr. Edness.

He added discussions were taking place to set up a two-year Bermuda College programme which would give young Bermudians a chance to enter the Police Service.

Mr. Edness went on to warn of the tax implications should the PLP form a Government.

Mr. Edness added that Government had a ten-year plan to regenerate the whole Pembroke basin area.

He said: "All the people with land and houses around there will benefit -- the value of their property will go up.'' But he added the PLP had opposed the plan and added there had been several proposals the PLP had been against -- but later tried to claim credit for.

And he said: "The day may well come when they will be able to do what they say but before then they will have to say in a clear, concise manner what they are all about and what they intend to do with the Country -- they haven't said that.'' And he repeated UBP claims that the Budget Reply was "vague'' and "trite.'' He added: "It doesn't say whether they can manage an economy, how they are going to pay for all social programmes they have piled into their manifesto.

"I believe in the electorate of this Country and I believe when the electorate reads this document, they will see vague promises and no indication of how they are going to do it.'' But Shadow Human Affairs Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said that the reason given for the axing of the Police Cadet scheme was bogus.

Bascome slams hike in licence fees He said: "It was so focussed, it resulted in too many Bermudians, particularly black Bermudians, being in the Police pipeline.

"This way, they can cherry pick and pick their people out of Bermuda College and ease them into the Police system, having been closely screened.'' PLP newcomer Paula Cox said it was time for a "changing of the guard.'' She added: "Because we haven't fleshed out all our policies in this Budget document isn't the issue. We are not on trial here.

"We are saying that, in many respects, this Budget reply follows the Budget.

The Budget Reply doesn't fall short. This Budget falls short in what it's trying to do.'' And she said the Country was on the brink of an election -- and that the PLP had "a platform for action.'' Shadow Environment Minister Leon (Jimmy) Williams said Bermuda's tourist business needed a shot in the arm from events like Soca spectaculars.

And he said the Island needed to capture some of the spirit of the adverts for Jamaica currently being shown on Bermudian TV.

Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Nelson Bascome said increases in licence fees for cars was criminalising the population.

He said it was now so expensive, people were risking not paying and gambling on the chance of a cheaper fine if they were caught.

Mr. Bascome also challenged Government to come clean on the extent of the money-laundering problem on the Island. New legislation to combat money-laundering is in the pipeline.

PLP Leader and Shadow Education Minister Jennifer Smith said Bermuda was plagued with "homelessness, hopelessness, joblessness, crime, truancy and violence.'' She said there was a lack of care for Bermuda's heritage and architecture.

Ms Smith said: "This wonderful Country is not perfect, so something is not right -- and I no longer believe in fairy tales.'' She added that several of her colleagues had pointed out that young Bermudians are unprepared to take up posts in "Bermuda Inc.'' She added that the reason behind revamping the education system in Bermuda was to offer equality -- in status, resources and the curriculum.

Ms Smith asked when the education audit would be released to the public.

She said Government should have received it by December last year.

Ms Smith went on to voice concern over a lack of business studies teachers and asked: What is Government doing to address this? She also expressed concern over truancy, saying the education department should get to grips with the problem.

"It is obvious that truancy is a cry for help and early intervention is needed.'' Ms Smith said children skipping school were likely to get into trouble.

She also called on the education department to monitor those youngsters taught at home.

"The department should know what is being taught at home and to what standard.'' Ms Smith said Government should ensure there were good programmes for children before they reached senior secondary school level.

And she continued by voicing her anxiety about the level of literacy in Bermuda.

"We need to address the learning needs of these young people to ensure they have a successful educational experience. We need to have a strategy to attack the problem of underachievement.'' Education Minister Jerome Dill accused the PLP of flip-flopping on a number of issues.

For example, the party's championing of international businesses was a departure from its previous stance.

Mr. Dill said the reason for such changes became clear in the last sentence of the PLP's Budget Reply. This laid clear the party's immediate goal: "A PLP victory in 1997/98.'' Government, however, could not afford to limit itself to such objectives, added Mr. Dill.

"We have to cater to the desires, aspirations and dreams of Bermudians.'' Mr. Dill went on to berate the PLP for not making any reference to drugs in its 16-page Budget Reply.

Such an omission only fuelled the suspicions of some people that the PLP were not as hard on drugs as they should be, said Mr. Dill.

In contrast, added Mr. Dill, Government demonstrated its hard line on drugs by increasing support for the National Drugs Commission.

Mr. Dill took Ms Smith to task on a number of issues, including the alleged lack of business studies teachers.

He said teachers were being trained in this area so they would be qualified and competent to take on this responsibility.

Mr. Dill also said auditor William Poston had stated in a recent Royal Gazette article that the education audit should be ready in about two months.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons wrapped up the economic debate by welcoming the PLP's change-of-heart over international businesses.

JEROME DILL -- Berated PLP.