So much left to do, just one year to do it in — Tim Smith looks at what Premier Ewart Brown might promise in what he vows will be "one of the boldest Throne Speeches ever".

In two days' time Premier Ewart Brown will kick off his final year in office — his last chance to put his vision for Bermuda into place before retiring to a world outside politics.

The Premier, who insists he'll stick to his word and stand down in October 2010 despite some Progressive Labour Party sceptics believing he secretly hopes to stay on, says this year's Throne Speech will herald the beginning of an incredibly busy year.

And one topic it's impossible to imagine won't be near the top of his agenda is also one of the thorniest: gambling.

Dr. Brown has already said it's time for the people to decide once and for all whether the gaming laws that split the Country down the middle should be relaxed, with people letting their MPs know their own stances on the issue.

While yesterday Dr. Brown would only say "there might be something" on gambling in Friday's speech, many believe the introduction of casinos is the controversial way the Tourism Minister wants to revitalise the ailing tourism industry.

The Bermuda First report released yesterday echoed the debate which has raged across the Island for years.

On the one hand it suggested gaming could lead to a "modest increase in tourism revenue". As an example, it cited the success of Las Vegas, saying two percent of first-time visitors and 15 percent of repeat visitors head there specifically to gamble, and that 85 percent of visitors gamble at some point.

Any suggestion of Hamilton turning into a mini 'Sin City' would cause uproar among the anti-gaming contingent, who agree with the latter part of Bermuda First's advice — that gambling brings psychological, physical, social or professional disruption in the lives of two percent of the population.

The report stated: "Government should continue to study the potential economic and social impact of introducing gaming in Bermuda. If gaming in Bermuda is allowed, Bermuda should adopt policies to minimise the social harm."

Suggestions included banning locals from entering casinos, and introducing extensive addiction services.

Opponents to gaming include church groups and many of Dr. Brown's own party's MPs and supporters, while The Royal Gazette's poll last month showed 47 percent of people are against relaxing gambling laws, with just 34 percent in favour.

However, the Chamber of Commerce yesterday backed the Premier's suggestion that the matter should be decided on as soon as possible.

"The longer it sits out there, the more it causes anxiety and concern on the part of the general public," said Chamber president Stephen Todd.

"If we proceed or not, we need a direction one way or the other. It's something we would welcome: some form of discussion."

Giving the Chamber's position, Mr. Todd said: "There are those that are in favour and those that are against. We are obviously going by the majority of our retailers."

He said retailers and businesses were looking to reinvent themselves and become more sophisticated, and that while some believe that could be achieved by gaming, the question remains "up in the air".

Aside from the gaming hint, Dr. Brown would only say of Friday's speech, through his press secretary Arnold Minors: "This will be one of the boldest Throne Speeches ever."

But Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) leader Larry Marshall claimed one of his anti-conscription campaigners had been told that they would be happy about what is lined up.

Mr. Marshall was refusing to get his hopes up, commenting: "There's one solution to conscription in Bermuda and that is it needs to be abolished."

An educational programme to aid young black males is also set for mention, the Premier stated earlier in the week.

In recent weeks, Dr. Brown has also said he is committed to working with the US State Department on relief from the stop list.

US Consul General Grace Shelton responded yesterday: "We are talking with the Premier and we at the State Department are working with the Department of Homeland Security on expediting the processing for issuing waivers of ineligibility to travel to the US."

It remains to be seen whether human rights issues will get raised on Friday, but Human Rights Commission chairman Venous Memari repeated her call for the HRC to be established as an independent body, saying: "Independence from Government is the cornerstone of a legitimate national human rights organisation."

The HRC is one of a number of rights groups hoping Government will finally fulfil its promise to ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Campaigners have lost some hope after Culture Minister Dale Butler, who pledged the move was imminent in April, left Cabinet in the summer, with the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation refusing to answer questions on the subject since then.

One long-standing promise is finally being realised, however, with the Public Access To Information legislation first pledged by then-Premier Alex Scott in the 2003 Throne Speech now coming to light.

The draft bill went online last month — attracting praise for its progressiveness but criticism for some features including its lack of retroactivity. Dr. Brown has said the public's feedback will help shape how the bill is tabled in the House in the coming Parliamentary session.