Backbencher Terry Lister believes his tough stances on crime, education and finance will make him Bermuda's new Premier tomorrow night.

Mr. Lister says Progressive Labour Party delegates are impressed with his public campaign as he prepares to take on Finance Minister Paula Cox and fellow backbencher Dale Butler at Devonshire Recreation Club.

While Ms Cox has carried out her bid away from the public spotlight, and Mr. Butler has saved most of his for the delegates tomorrow night, Mr. Lister has outlined his proposals in a series of town hall meetings.

"I'm the only candidate who has taken the time to thoroughly tell Bermuda what they are going to do and the delegates appreciate that because they know what a Terry Lister administration would do," he told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"We have been talking with delegates and feel the response has been extremely good. I'm very confident. I expect to win on Thursday night.

"I was able to use the town hall meetings to spell out my position on the whole aspect of Government. We said what we would do in ten different Ministries.

"Even if they weren't at the meetings, the delegates are all aware of what I said. They could speak to their family members and friends who did attend.

"It's made it possible for delegates to assess our campaign and our position and they are feeling onto it."

Some in the PLP have praised Ms Cox's behind-closed-doors approach, but Mr. Lister says they represent a small proportion of the delegates.

"Most people understand that, on Thursday night, in the casting of a single ballot, the people will be voting for the leader of the PLP and they will also be electing the Premier of Bermuda," he said.

"Most people understand the importance of that person telling the public what their positions are.

"We had an extremely good reception to the town hall meetings; due to good press coverage the message has gone out. I believe the vast majority of Bermudians interested in politics have heard my message and get the gist of it."

Mr. Lister said the public likes his plan to tackle crime and improve education by making Social Rehabilitation the most important Ministry in his administration.

And he says his background as an accountant makes him the right man to bring Bermuda's soaring debt under control.

Two months ago, he labelled Government's spending "really shocking" as debt ballooned from $240 million before Ewart Brown became Premier to more than $1 billion today including the Butterfield Bank guarantee.

Vowing to trim spending on consultants and travel from day one, he said yesterday: "It worries me quite a bit because of my experience in that field. People know I will take it very seriously. It's a given."

Some in the PLP say his public criticism of Government will count against him when the delegates vote, but Mr. Lister argues those people are a tiny minority.

Likening his attitude to a father who can't ignore his son's poor behaviour, he said: "If I deny it, I'm not helping. That's why there's a problem in a lot of our situations: denials rather than accepting.

"You can't fix a problem if you don't see it. What are we going to do about it? That's what Bermuda wants to hear. That's what the delegates want to hear."

He said his speech would focus on Bermuda's needs and how the PLP can strengthen.

"A lot of people are wary of the party today," he said. "I want to put us back as soon as possible so that in six or nine months people really do support the PLP and say, 'It's my party.'"

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