rebuked as a message of hopelessness by the Government Leader in the Upper House.

UBP Senate leader E.T. (Bob) Richards said the Opposition's response spelled out "hopelessness'' to the young people of the Island.

"There is a litany of negatives in the Opposition's reply,'' he added.

One had to bear in mind that young people were influenced by what they heard and they could buy into the PLP's message if a balance was not presented, he warned.

Sen. Richards said he thought this was the main difference between the Throne Speech and the Opposition's reply.

Government had presented new ideas and a positive, realistic approach to the future while the PLP's reply had very few new ideas and contained mainly negative aspects.

Sen. Richards, who is also the Minister for Technology and Information, said Government had been able to manage change in a rapidly changing world but nothing in the Opposition reply indicated that they had any idea about managing change.

On the subject of long-term residents, Sen. Richards noted that if Government had dealt with the problem quickly then it would have been criticised just as it was now for going through a consultative process.

The economy was booming, he continued, with numerous private sector construction projects underway but the Opposition sounded like "prophets of doom'' by saying unemployment was up.

The economy was creating new jobs and opportunities -- part of Government's mission -- and it was now up to the individual to take advantage of them.

And looking at race, Sen. Richards said: "Let us not forget where we have come from, particularly on the issue of racial integration and advancement.'' Bermuda had come a long way from its "unfortunate racial history''. At one time the only blacks in the civil service were postmen, he pointed out.

Turning to tourism, Sen. Richards said clearly arrival figures were disappointing but in no way were they in "a free-fall or plummet'' as the Opposition had implied.

And the Bermuda Tourism Authority was not an admission of failure as the Opposition had described it but was a new idea that would act like a catalyst between industry stake holders.

The Royal Gazette Editor David L. White should stand for a seat in Parliament, according to UBP Senator Larry Scott .

Sen. Scott said Mr. White believed his opinions represented the views of the majority in Bermuda -- and he should contest an MP's seat.

He complained that the Editor was "making news rather than reporting it'' after a series of recent editorial comments.

And he said Mr. White, a former President of the National Trust, should not have stepped into the debate about the proposed expansion of the National Equestrian Centre.

The National Trust have opposed more development at the Vesey Street centre and Mr. White criticised Government for lifting a woodlands reserve order on the site.

Sen. Scott told the Senate: "The Editor has got himself into a rather difficult position.

"He has held many positions throughout the Island, including president of the National Trust.

"There is a suspicion that when he writes with vigour in his editorials for the National Trust that he is not being an independent editor at all.

"The Editor has to be careful in his duty to the public. It has been said that he makes the news rather than reports it. It's his agenda.'' Sen. Scott said the proper place for Mr. White to air his views would be in the House of Assembly.

He said: "I have always invited him to stand for election. If he thinks he's so plugged into this community he should stand for election and then the public can judge him.

"That's the litmus test if he thinks he carries a view that's supported by the majority of people.

"Otherwise he needs to remember his responsibilities and duties to society. I will never be afraid to be critical of the Editor of the Royal Gazette.'' Turning to sport, Sen. Scott said he believed Bermuda could qualify for the next football World Cup if they followed the example set by Jamaica.

He said: "We have got the right experience, all we need is the administration to be run without the fierce criticism of politics.

"Otherwise, our young boys will feel distressed. They will feel like there's nothing here for them and that's when they're likely to break the law.

"But if we get the balance right under Clyde Best, the national football coach, we could be there in Japan in 2002.'' Fellow UBP Senator Angela Fox referred to recent spates of vandalism at Cedarbridge Academy and said: "One of the biggest challenges facing our society is the behavioural problems of young people.

"There are plans now for a new anti-drugs programme and drugs court and in my view, once this project is implemented, young people will have a tremendous opportunity for a second chance.'' Progressive Labour Party Senator Neletha Butterfield said Government needed to do more to tackle "the drugs menace''.

Sen. E.T. (Bob) Richards