Budget, the Opposition said yesterday.

"Budgets should not be just about monetary and fiscal policy and balancing figures but about social engineering,'' Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox said in his Budget Reply.

Later in the speech, Mr. Cox said Government needed to focus on "repairing the social fabric''.

"From teenage pregnancy, to family breakdown, to violent crime, the social fabric is ripping apart,'' he said.

While the speech did not provide a detailed plan for addressing these problems, Mr. Cox and Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade proposed a number of specific measures.

At a news conference following his speech, Mr. Cox said the return of the US bases represented "a golden opportunity to almost start all over again'' in terms of opportunities for Bermudians.

"It's not good enough to just go along and create jobs and not think in terms of bringing people along so they can benefit from those jobs,'' he said.

Mr. Wade said that from drugs to guns to domestic abuse, "there are many problems facing the community that this Budget was expected to address.

"What we've done thus far is probably mark time and only provide money for the Airport.'' He noted no funds were provided for many items recommended in the Tumim Report, from computerised courts, to Crown counsels to replace Police in Magistrates' Court, to videotaping of Police interviews.

Among measures proposed in Mr. Cox's speech were: Increased funding for the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality and unspecified "stringent measures'' to counteract "glaring levels of social disparity'' in Bermuda.

Mr. Cox noted the average weekly household income for blacks was $990.81, while the average household income for whites was $1,599.15. And this was despite the fact the average black household was larger than the average white household.

More money to decrease demand for drugs by helping drug addicts.

"A serious commitment to training'' in the Home Affairs Ministry.

Hiring more than the ten extra Police cadets provided for in the Budget. The move would deter crime while heightening the comfort level of visitors, he said.

Hiring of teacher assistants for all Primary 1 and Primary 2 classes, on top of the assistants promised in the Budget for teachers of students with special needs.

A timetable for constructing a multi-purpose cultural centre.

Incentives to invest in small business and more emphasis on the Small Business Development Corporation providing financial expertise.

Tax breaks for companies that hire a high proportion of Bermudians.