The following is the full text of former Progressive Labour Party Senator Ira Philip's presentation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

The first thought that flushed through my mind when I was given this assignment was about "the Old Gray Mare''. I am sure you have heard the saying "The Old Gray Mare Ain't What She Used to Be''.

So like the Old Gray Mare, the Parliamentary and Political Scene in Bermuda ain't what it used to be, and it hasn't been since the momentous and historic events that took place in Bermuda on November 9, 1998.

That was the date the Progressive Labour Party, Bermuda's first political party, in a landslide victory, assumed for the first time in its 35-year history, the Government of Bermuda. That victory swept from office the powerful United Bermuda Party, and effectively brought to an end more than 300 years of authoritarianism and minority white political domination of a predominantly black populace.

The United Bermuda Party was deemed to be the last vestige of that governing elite who prided themselves with open boasts that they were not a democracy, but were instead an oligarchy. And I might add, a rigid, deeply entrenched one at that, determined at all costs to control Bermuda's 20th Century economic, political, social and even ecclesiastical affairs.

So what we are now witnessing on the Parliamentary and Political scene in what is generally called The New Bermuda, are the after-effects of what was hailed less than two years ago as a "uniquely quite revolution''.

We are seeing the shifting of mountains of derision and doubt -- relentlessly propagated for decades by the former ruling party alleging an absolute inability on the part of the PLP to manage the country's affairs. And that was compounded by their warnings about the threat a PLP Government would pose to the equilibrium and equanimity of Bermuda's delicate economic and social structure.

The fact of the matter is that the so-called PLP rebels had overnight become the emperors. They hit the ground running, quickly getting a firm grip on their new power and the organs of government.

To cut a long story short and bring you up to date, a remarkably smooth transition has taken place.

While the psychological impact of that change has been tremendous, it cannot be over-estimated. It was not expected that overnight it would be possible to get rid of attitudes embedded in the psyche of people for decades in an authoritarian society steeped in colonialism and nurtured in racism. Racism, institutional or otherwise is still with us. It has its effect on the political scene. But it is being fought.

Today, looking at the broad political scene there can be no doubt that the PLP are in full charge and quite focused. There is stability in the country. There has been no economic or social deterioration as predicted.

There has been no flight of capital, or mass exodus of international companies to other jurisdictions because of fear of a PLP Government. Nor has there been a significant downturn in the economy resulting in loss of jobs.

Myths about the PLP's governing skills have been soundly exploded. If any ineptitude has manifested itself on the political and or parliamentary scene, it has come from the fledging Opposition United Bermuda Party, beguiled by their own propaganda.

To be fair to the Opposition, I must say they try hard to be effectively critical of Government. They have been quite reactive on particular issues, but often in a kneejerk way.

Their occasional, hysterical outbursts are guaranteed to gain front page exposure in the one and only daily newspaper, The Royal Gazette , and echoed ad nauseum in the electronic media as if they were the synoptic Gospels.

Therefore the main opposition has been forthcoming not from inside Parliament, but outside, through the media.

The Royal Gazette , incidentally is the UBP's long-standing Establishment backbone. Its publishers and editors have not yet reconciled themselves so the realities of the New Bermuda and the fact that the old order has been swept by the board. The paper's contempt for the ruling Progressive Labour Party and loathing of its Leader Premier Jennifer Smith is unmistakable.

Except for anything that is calculated to stoke a leadership struggle the Premier is rendered Page 16 exposure or thereabout, if she gets any real exposure at all.

That, however is a matter which seemingly leaves her unperturbed and, I believe, has served to strengthen her resolve to distance herself from the John Swan pseudo-presidential style of engagement inflicted on the country for so many years that some people still think it is the norm.

The most recurrent phrase in the daily news is "Premier Smith was unavailable for comment''. Which is reflective of the mutual contempt between the Premier and Press.

The ruling party has won the confidence of both local and international interests through its efforts to revive the tourist trade; to modernise banking laws through enactment of the Banks and Deposit Taking Companies Act as well as the enactment of new Investment Business laws; and initiatives of the new E-Commerce Ministry.

Nothing seem to have caused the opposition to become more frenzied than the announcement of the Ruling Party that it intends to amend the constitution to bring about a greater degree of democracy in the country.

The proposed Constitutional Amendments are designed to ensure that one cardinal rule of democracy is established in Bermuda, and that is the issue of one-man-one-vote of equal value.

We have seen the spectacle of the once staid UBP, with the blessing of the country's only other opposition party, the National Liberal Party (which incidentally succeeded in winning no seats in the November 9 election) calling on the masses to demonstrate; sign petitions. bombard their MPS and the media with letters demanding a Constitutional Conference and or a Referendum.

And even more spectacular was the flight to London several days ago of a powerful UBP delegation, reinforced by a prominent constitutional lawyer, for a 30 minute head-to-head meeting with Baroness Scotland, complaining about the behaviour of the PLP Government.

Believe me, when I state, that with such a metamorphosis currently underway in Bermuda, we are shaping up for some real excitement on the political and parliamentary scene.

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