Former Cabinet Minister Dale Butler would consider closing some schools so the buildings can be used as community centres if he's elected Premier.

And Mr. Butler promised to save cash by taking a 20 percent pay cut as Premier and reducing Ministers' salaries by ten percent — a move he concedes may put some MPs off serving in his Cabinet.

Officially launching his campaign to be Premier yesterday, the backbencher said he would focus on community development if he gets the top job ahead of Finance Minister Paula Cox or former Minister Terry Lister.

He said he would address the plight of young black males and the homeless, help unemployed people use their skills to get jobs and get the most out of the Island's community activists.

Cheered by a crowd of more than 30 supporters and family members outside the Salvation Army Shelter, Mr. Butler told the media ideas in his social agenda include:

• setting up an all boys' school and a commission to see which schools can be closed and converted into centres for youths, seniors and small businesses;

• developing a programme to help growing numbers of young people who have skills but can't find jobs;

• creating an 'ideas council' which would monitor talk shows and contact people who call in with outside-the-box suggestions;

• targeting fathers who don't make their financial payments;

• building a new homeless shelter within his first two Budget periods;

• eliminating payroll tax for those earning under $65,000;

• implementing the recommendations of the Mincy Report into young black males;

• setting up a hotline for people who get frustrated at the small things that don't get done quickly;

• promoting aquatics as a third national sport to appeal to a wider section of society than cricket and football.

He said as well as boosting tourism and international business, such initiatives would be funded by:

• reducing waste and spending in Government and cutting back on consultants;

• slashing salaries for the Premier and Ministers;

• adding no more free Government programmes.

Mr. Butler is deemed a long shot to succeed Premier Ewart Brown, with delegates expected to fall into line with the Progressive Labour Party's long-term plan for Ms Cox to become party leader and Premier.

And while 12 PLP MPs have publicly backed Ms Cox and three have attended Mr. Lister's town hall meetings, none were at Mr. Butler's launch yesterday.

But despite his own perception that much of his popularity comes from outside his own party, a number at yesterday's gathering declared themselves PLP supporters.

The launch began with a bang as Butler backers blew horns and shook maracas, before the candidate took to the stage to reveal his social agenda.

"As a former Minister, I attempted to highlight the plight of the homeless and, as the Premier, community development will be the main plank in a revived social agenda that Bermuda, with so many resources, sadly needs," said Mr. Butler.

He said a 'spiritual counsellor' in his Senate would double up as a homeless commissioner, making a new shelter a priority.

'Team Bermuda' was a constant theme throughout his presentation, as he said all Bermudians and guest workers should pull together to help plug gaps remaining despite the PLP's introduction of day care, financial assistance and housing.

"Team Bermuda of the PLP can be a beacon of light and hope as we make Bermuda a better place for all as we develop national unity and a focus of purpose for our beloved Country with its strengths and weaknesses," he said.

One supporter, Gershwyn Smith, who is also known as 'High Priest Shiloh of the Young Progressives', said he had known Mr. Butler for 40 years.

"I support his endeavour. All of his life he has been community-minded and he carries out his objectives with professionalism," Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette.

"He works continuously and he never shows himself to be defeated."

His nephew Joshua Butler said he backed Mr. Butler from an ancestral and humanitarian point of view and pointed to his desire to help the working class.

One PLP supporter, who would not be named, said many in attendance were PLP voters even though they may not be members, adding: "This shows he has a broad support from a cross-section of Bermudians."

Mr. Butler told this newspaper: "A lot of my support comes from Bermuda. I didn't ask any of these people if they are members of the PLP."

Mr. Butler, who handed a large collection of tins and food donated by the public to the Salvation Army, will unveil his regeneration agenda at Harbour Nights at 6.30 p.m. today.

l Read Mr. Butler's speech in full on Page 4.