Premier Ewart Brown has released a short YouTube film in order to speak "directly and unfiltered" to voters.

Dr. Brown first appeared on the video sharing website in November to announce last year's General Election.

This time he lauds his party's achievements in the past year and bemoans the "media frenzy" surrounding politics on the Island. The six-and-a-half minute clip posted yesterday by Channel 105 Front Street — the address of the Cabinet Office — will be one in an occasional series of videos, the Premier tells viewers.

He cites legislation passed for free day care for Bermudian families and education reform as "highlights" of the last year. And he talks of a new law providing enhancements for those covered by the Government's Health Insurance Plan (HIP), as well as the fact that students get free public transport.

The Premier, sitting in front of a backdrop of the Cabinet building, touches on the Government's recent troubles with the unions, insisting that the PLP remains rooted in the labour movement and reminding viewers of the "decades of government that left working people behind".

"Our job of governing sometimes conflicts with our friends in organised labour," said Dr. Brown. "While we may be at odds on issues from time to time, we both agree on the core principle that hard working people deserve good pay, good benefits and a seat at the bargaining table."

He goes on to criticise the "media frenzy", "gotcha politics" and "politics of personal destruction" that he says detract from his party's good work. "Over the next few months, expect the 'combined opposition' to play on your economic fears and attempt to blame this Government for an international economic downturn from which Bermuda is not immune," he says.

Acting Opposition Leader Cole Simons last night described the video as "propagandistic prattle that blinds people to the realities of their country's history".

He said he welcomed the Premier's online progress report, adding: "Viewers should understand that the main purpose of the YouTube video is political.

"Its aim is to raise the Government's image in the eyes of an electorate that has developed serious doubts about its leadership. The Government has given them many reasons to be concerned. In recent months, we have witnessed a host of actions that say the Government is autocratic, uncaring and disconnected."

Mr. Simons said these included the threat to shut down of debate in Parliament, the "bizarre attempt" by the Cabinet to usurp the independence of the Speaker and the rejections of arbitrated labour pay settlements. He said the "decades of government that left working people behind" referred to by the Premier were actually "decades that saw the emergence of the black middle class that anchors Bermuda today".

The Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones said no taxpayers' money had been spent making the video, because Government used technology that "essentially doesn't cost anything".

He added that DVD copies worth an estimated $4 had been given to local media. "It's a great value," said Mr. Jones.

* View the video at www.youtube.com/105FrontStreet or see Page 4 for a full text of the Premier's comments.