Premier hopeful Dale Butler will instigate a Whistleblowers Act and investigate allegations of corruption if he becomes the leader of the Country.

Mr. Butler yesterday said he would also carry out a review of national debt, which he bemoaned had soared from $240 million four years ago to more than $1 billion.

In the second part of the official launch of his campaign to be Premier, the backbencher also vowed to set up a referendum bill to get public opinion on marijuana decriminalisation, Independence, conscription and gambling.

The former Culture Minister announced his regeneration plan in a town crier style speech while standing on a box in Front Street during Harbour Nights.

Backed by a small gathering of his 'Team Bermuda' supporters as passers-by stopped to listen, he called out: "The Butler has been in the House since 1998 and the Butler delivers."

He then rattled off a list of issues affecting Bermuda, describing them as "pebbles in our shoes" preventing growth and development.

"In the past five years, Bermuda has been rife with allegations of corruption," said the Warwick North East MP.

"Team Bermuda will develop a process for resolving true or false such comments, which if unresolved stifle the growth of the Country.

"The process has to involve a Whistleblowers Act, the Police and auditor so we can have confidence that we have a clean house that is above board."

Other plans he revealed for the first time included:

• develop an aggressive approach to help small businesses;

l release Rolfe Commissiong's report on club development and give more funding to clubs;

• offer shares in White Hill Field so it can be turned as a multi-purpose facility;

l respect the reports of Development Application Board's technical officers and let the courts say if decisions should be overruled;

l random drug testing for MPs;

• introduce a full-time entertainment show using talent like Gene Steede;

• give taxi drivers ambassador status;

• let Independence be addressed by its advocates.

He said: "Team Bermuda has presented a new vision for our common cause: Bermuda. It is a vision that can be championed in every corner of Bermuda because it touches all of our lives."

In October, Progressive Labour Party delegates will decide if Mr. Butler, Finance Minister Paula Cox or backbencher Terry Lister should be the one to replace Ewart Brown as leader of the PLP and Bermuda.