Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier has accused the ruling Progressive Labour Party of perpetrating a “bald-faced lie” in an election campaign mail-out pamphlet currently circulating throughout the Island.The flyer being mailed to local homes charged that the One Bermuda Alliance will put an end to the Economic Empowerment Zones for NE Hamilton, Somerset and St George's.Speaking at a press conference yesterday Mr Cannonier said he recognises that “during campaign times that the waters can get muddy and sometimes there may be a misinterpretation of what's being said”.The PLP flyer says the OBA “has pledged to get rid of grants for businesses operating in the EEZ”, and that “this policy would be a disaster for business owners struggling to compete” in EEZ zones.It also states: “The OBA doesn't really care about businesses in these areas. They are looking out for the wealthy families that have historically controlled the island.”But Mr Cannonier asserted that statement couldn't be further from the truth. “Under my leadership in the OBA no one, not any of my Shadow Ministers, have ever pledged this.“This is a lie and so I say to you Bermuda, are we standing strong or are we standing on lies. Bermuda cannot stand on the legs of lies.”However, the PLP released a statement pointing to quotes on EEZ grants from Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards where he was reported in Hansard as saying: “The whole idea of grants, to me, is unacceptable. It needs to be removed." (See the sidebar for more details.)Yesterday, moving to set the record straight, Mr Cannonier said: “What we have said is that the incentives that we have given to the EEZ zones we know during these economic times should extend it to all small businesses who are looking to get started.“For us and for Bermuda to receive this kind of mail, we will not stand for this and I know that Bermuda does not stand for bald-faced lies, this is a lie. I don't believe that this country is willing to accept this anymore,” he said.“When you run out of ideas and solutions it is this kind of foolishness that happens and so what's next, personal attacks? I can assure you that after having read this that's where we're going.“The subtle references to racial disparity, going back down the road, I will say this, if you can't pay your rent, it doesn't matter if you're black or white. It doesn't matter if you're a Filipino or an expat, if you can't pay your rent, you cannot pay your rent; so we need to move this country in a direction that brings us together.“I've heard that from our Government. Is that happening? This flyer is saying 'no' that is not happening,” he said.The OBA leader also questioned why his party would make such a statement when even he, as a small-business owner, benefited from monetary grants through the EEZ.“I'm a benefactor of that, I'm a small-business owner, Bermuda Small Business helped me out when I was getting started it is a good thing. We need to continue working with our people, continue working with our businesses,” he said.But he said: “On the backdrop of families not being able to feed themselves, people sleeping in tents right now, taxi drivers not being able to fill up their tanks, people losing jobs on a regular basis and businesses dying on a regular, daily, weekly basis, we can't be standing on these kinds of lies.“The PLP Government has run out of ideas, and they have run out of solutions and so the next best thing is to character assassinate, to go after the OBA and tell lies. Bermuda is not going to stand for it and neither will the OBA, it's just not going to happen.“We are moving back towards the kind of politics that divides the country rather than bring it together and the OBA is all about bringing people and this country together because the only way out of the mess that we are in after 15 years is that we come together to bring solutions and ideas to the table,” said Mr Cannonier.“You can expect more of this continue, but I can assure you that this flyer really and truly needs to be thrown in the trash because that's where it belongs. Bermuda needs to move forward and we cannot accept this kind of thing from our Government,” he said.“We will give facts, we will not use fear tactics to get your vote, what we will do is tell you the truth and give you the facts that's what we would do.”