Government needs to take a harder line on serious crime by maximising punishment, says the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.Chamber president Ronnie Viera delivered a lengthy wish list for the next Throne Speech when contacted yesterday.Much of it was to do with the economy, but one key item was a tougher line on serious crime.“While progress has been made, there must be a continued effort to reduce the problem of gang related crimes,” he said.“A review of the penalties should be conducted to ensure that they are strong enough. For instance, shouldn’t a life sentence for premeditated murder be a true life sentence and not 25 years or less?”With the scheduled reopening of parliament looming, Premier Paula Cox could be preparing to make her last Throne Speech before the election.Unless, of course, she already has made her last pre-election Throne Speech.Ms Cox has indicated that the election will be held before the end of the year and could choose to name the date before November 2, when parliament is scheduled to reconvene, and skip the need for a Throne Speech altogether.Some say that would be unlikely as the Throne Speech would give the Premier an additional stage upon which to trumpet her party’s agenda before she rolls out the election platform.But Ms Cox does not have the same appetite for political ploys as her predecessor.A Throne Speech next week would be moot as an agenda for the parliamentary session as was the case for the 2007 general election when then Premier Ewart Brown called the election on the same day as the reopening of parliament.The then Official Opposition United Bermuda Party did not even have a chance to Reply to the document.Kim Swan, interim leader of the United Bermuda Party, is not offering any thoughts on a 2012 Throne Speech wish list.Government has reached its “expiration date” on its 2007 mandate, Mr Swan said.“If the Premier does not call the election within the next 9 days — the 2012 Throne Speech can be expected to be a political document.”The ruling Progressive Labour Party has had six Throne Speeches for its five year term, two in 2008, Mr Swan pointed out.“At this late hour the people are eager for the announcement of the election date.”That date would most likely be in the third week of December if Government wants to give overseas students who will be home for the holidays, a chance to vote.But whether it’s an election manifesto or a Throne Speech, the next Government would do well to focus on implementing initiatives to address the parlous state of the economy, says the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.“It is clear that the economy is still in recession and a recovery has not yet begun so they must specify what they will do to stimulate growth in economic activity,” said Ronnie Viera President of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.“The Finance Minister should convene an economic advisory task force consisting of the best minds in Bermuda to develop a tactical plan to revive the economy.”Mr Viera also called for “urgent action” to end the trend of failing businesses and continuing job losses.“In this regard, it is also critical that the payroll tax relief currently in place be extended for at least another year.”Abolishing term limits, a long held stance of the business community, is another item on the wish list.The Chamber also wants to see a “further review of land ownership policies” aimed at stimulating activity in the real estate market.“Red tape and other similar bureaucratic obstacles to potential hotel developers must be removed to get the much publicised hotel developments underway and to facilitate the sale of those properties on the market,” Mr Viera continued.And Government needs to come up with a plan to return to the days of balancing the budget.“Government, whoever it may be, must develop a debt management strategy which will result in a plan to pay down the current outstanding debt.“The concern to the business community is how any such plan will impact them over the coming years and since it can only be done by collecting taxes, it is only reasonable that we see what the repayment plan is and how it will be funded.”Kevin Grant, President of the Bermuda Public Services Union, says that job security for his members is uppermost in his mind.“It’s no secret that the government will look to implement restructuring initiatives to cut cost,” he said in an e-mail.“So of course the collaboration among all stakeholders needs to be emphasised. I can see no other way of this country surviving if we do not establish meaningful dialogue and more buy-in between government, the unions and the private sector.”Other issues needing “serious” attention are the retirement age issue and the viability of the superannuation pension fund.“To be fair the issues and concerns that we have are no different from the rest of the world, however we would be naive to think that there will be no hard decisions that have to be made,” Mr Grant continued.“We are willing to collaborate more with everyone — unions, private sector, and government — However I must stress that I do have a mandate to look out for the interest of each and everyone of my members and I along with my executive will do everything within our power to do so.”For Martha Dismont, director of the Family Center, said: “There are currently many needs in the community and those needs start with parents needing jobs, or unemployment benefits to ensure healthcare is available and parents can meet the basic necessities.“There is a major need for job training initiatives to increase skill level of those looking to apply for higher skilled jobs; we need a major investment in education — professional development for teachers to cope with the needs of children in the 21st century; a return of grants to accredited or certified agencies so that the increased demand for services can be met by capable agencies, who may also be able, with funding, to support and assist other agencies.”Seniors advocacy group, Age Concern, meanwhile, says that its constituents would be well served if the Government makes a recommitment to a National Ageing Plan, the prohibition of age discrimination through a Human Rights Act amendment and comes up with a strategy for reducing healthcare costs for seniors.Claudette Fleming, Age Concern’s executive director, wants the Premier to do the right thing by the Island’s older residents.Besides living up to previous Throne Speech commitments, like the age discrimination amendment, Government could also address the need for “appropriate health insurance coverage for long-term care, home care, outpatient and diagnostics services in non-hospital settings, particularly where service costs are lower,” says Ms Fleming.And seniors, the largest and fastest growing demographic, need a designated representative in parliament.Ms Fleming also wants the next Throne Speech to commit Government to securing seniors’ income through “social insurance payments that reflect current cost of living and the retention of tax exemptions for seniors that need them most.”