Bermuda is not yet out of the woods and workers will face tough months ahead but the Acting Premier told Labour Day participants people must dig deep and get on with business in order to ride out the current economic climate.

With Premier Ewart Brown absent from the Labour Day march Deputy Premier Paula Cox addressed the crowd saying it was her "right and privilege" to be there. "The world is very different than it was a year ago," she said. "Some people think it is best to sit tight, take their money out of banks and wait.

"But that is not the Bermudian grit or true Bermuda spirit, a spirit of determination.

"Now is the time to get on with the business of the people, not business as usual."

She added that while there had been naysayers who doubted if Bermuda would weather the storm the Island was still considered a premier international business centre and had fared better than the Cayman Islands.

"When the going gets tough we Bermudians thrive on it," she said. "Bermuda on the whole is weathering the changes. There have been some losses, but we don't stop and cry in our soup, that is not our way.

"People must meet the challenges with a can-do attitude. Now is not the time to be unrealistic or expansionist. The only option we have is to persevere and build a better, fairer Bermuda.

"The most devastating effect is on the people, by job losses and restructuring. Your Government is finding innovative ways to help you through this."

She mentioned the Ministry of Finance was involved in initiatives in the Economic Empowerment Zones and helping the Bermuda Industrial Union improve its credit union.

Opposition leader Kim Swan said the current climate was also a time for Bermudians to help one another out.

"Let us not forget that many Bermudians are struggling as the global economic downturn continues to impact our tiny island," he said. "Redundancies, layoffs and closures mean uncertainty for many families as fall and winter draw nearer. Brothers and sisters — today more than ever we must embrace what it means to be our brother's keeper and be mindful that many within our society are only a few pay checks away from real hard times."

BIU head Chris Furbert said he was disappointed with yesterday's turnout, approximately 150 union workers marched along Hamilton streets with majorettes and Gombeys.

"Over the last couple of years turn out has been low," he said. "I think a lot of people have taken Labour Day for granted and go about their own business and do not show appreciation for people who helped build the labour movement."

Labour Day is an international holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

The celebration of Labour Day resulted from the labour union movement. It has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.