issue in next week's General Election.

And Premier Pamela Gordon and Finance Minister Grant Gibbons warned Bermuda needed "leadership, experience and philosophy'' to take advantage of big earners at home -- and negotiate potential financial minefields abroad.

Ms Gordon said: "The United Bermuda Party has the experience to protect our jobs and the family budget from the threat of new taxes at home and the threats that are happening outside our shores.'' Both stressed that probes into "harmful tax regimes'' by organisations like the 29-member Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union posed a massive threat to Bermudian jobs and prosperity.

Ms Gordon said the Country needed stability to earn the cash to support Government programmes.

She said she did not doubt that the PLP would keep its manifesto promises -- and insisted that was the problem. But she added: "Over half of what the PLP promises is to `review and consider'''. And she warned: "This is a fast-moving world. Such a period of inactivity could cripple our economy.'' Ms Gordon also took a swing at PLP confusion over hi-tech electronic commerce and its suitability for Bermuda.

Ms Gordon said: "The United Bermuda Party is on record in support of e-commerce.

"We along with INC. magazine and almost every other business magazine in the world think that e-commerce is the way of the future, the goldmine of the future.'' Ms Gordon said the UBP was committed to teaching youngsters computer skills to fit them for the future.

Ms Gordon said that the UBP was needed to foster e-commerce and to protect the 13,000 jobs which depend on international business. Dr. Gibbons added that the threats to the economy could also damage tourism.

He said he and the Premier -- who have been negotiating with the UK and OECD for months over tax haven fears -- had defended Bermuda from outside attacks.