With frequent slayings of young black men on our streets and high unemployment, Parliament reopens today to high hopes — and in some cases, little expectation — that the new One Bermuda Alliance Government will announce concrete initiatives to reduce crime and create jobs for Bermudians.And with very little financial wriggle room, Government is also under pressure to maintain social services or even boost support in some areas.Expected to feature in its first Throne Speech are pre-election promises to expand Economic Empowerment Zones, a two-year payroll tax exemption for new Bermudian hires and stronger immigration enforcement measures to protect Bermudian jobs.The Governor is also expected to announce that Bermuda will have an autonomous Tourism Authority and two new bodies — Office of the Contractor General and the Spending and Government Efficiency Commission — to help control public spending and reduce waste.But having repeatedly promised in the election run up to reduce the debt without cutting civil service jobs or social spending, the Throne Speech is likely to limit its proposals on curbing spending to a focus on efficiency, “prudent management” and doing more with less — the type of language used with regularity by the former administration.Finance Minister Bob Richards has already said that Government will have to increase its borrowing and the statutory debt ceiling.Former Premier Alex Scott is sceptical that the OBA Government can deliver on its election promises.“The PLP Government invested in Bermuda’s infrastructure and had a robust social agenda,” Mr Scott said.“The OBA dismissed the approach of the PLP as wasteful and plunging Bermuda into a debtor state. Consequently the centrepiece of their Throne Speech has to be a bold plan for returning the PLP’s investment in the country to the public’s coffers.“We must anticipate a plan for how these dollars are going to be returned to the coffers while sustaining the social services and investment in education that Bermuda has come to expect.”It would, he continued, be a “denial of voter’s expectations” if the Throne Speech does not contain a “robust statement and plan” to reduce healthcare costs. And, referring to the OBA’s promise to create 2,000 jobs, Mr Scott said that Bermudians also deserved “innovative and pragmatic recommendations” showing how exactly government would deliver those jobs.“While the overall crime numbers were down under the PLP Government, the OBA said they had the answer to the problem of youth violence that we regularly experience.“The Throne Speech must have a statement as to how the OBA Government will address the continual episode of violent crime on our streets.”One jobs generating project that will probably get a mention is the redevelopment of the City of Hamilton’s waterfront. The City has been ploughing ahead with the project, still in very early stages, amid protest from Government that it had not been fully briefed but both parties say they are keen to collaborate on the project going forward.Full implementation of the anti-gang programme Operation Ceasefire should be a key public safety measure announced in the Speech, as well as promises to post community crime maps on the internet, institute a Cash Back for Communities programme and a Register of Sex Offenders.Another election promise — the formation of a crime-prevention working group involving youth organisations, churches and communities could be announced.Martha Dismont, head of The Family Center would welcome such a body. At the top of her wish list is a more collaborative approach to addressing challenges with youth and at-risk families.She is hoping that today’s Throne Speech will signal that government is willing to engage with and listen to the public in making decisions.Ms Dismont is looking for “very practical and realistic steps” to address job creation. Government ought to work on fully assessing the scope of unemployment “rather than an estimation of the number unemployed, underemployed, unskilled — with an intent to address a specific number in the population, with specific skill training initiatives.“Realistically, consider that we may need to cut back on expensive capital projects but ensure essential services are still provided to the population that is struggling to make ends meet.”She is calling for more preventive programmes to deal with gang activity and strengthening support for services such as the Child Development Programme which can identify at risk children from birth, as well as increasing prenatal care, early intervention and “positive youth development programmes.”The non-profit sector as a whole also needs support from Government, an investment which could generate benefits for society and cost savings for the public sector, Ms Dismont contends.“The non-profit sector generated some $100 million or 1.73 percent of GDP in 2010, it employs 500 people or 1.3 percent of the workforce, and engages volunteers for 2.7 million hours per year which conservatively represents $68.4 million of voluntary labour (2005 numbers).“Consider strengthening the capacity of agencies to deliver quality services so that they may be able to provide a less expensive solution (than sending children overseas, or government servicing these families)”.Bermuda’s fastest growing demographic — senior citizens — is also clamouring for attention from the Government.A key demand from this constituency has also been promised by the OBA — prohibition of age discrimination through an amendment of the Human Rights Act.“Anything less than a specific timeline with regard to the amendment would be translated as a business as usual approach to this subject,” said Claudette Fleming, Age Concern director.“We hope that the seniors that are waiting for this important change are not let down by another empty and vague promise and look forward to a fresh approach, beginning with the 2013 Throne Speech that clearly defines a timeline for results.”But seniors also want affordable healthcare, less or no taxes and a National Ageing Plan.The OBA, for its part, made a slew of other promises to seniors. Legislatively, it committed to updating the Seniors Abuse Register, create a Public Guardian for Incapacitated Adults and improving residential and long term care legislation.Programmatically, it has promised to expand affordable assisted living programmes for seniors, make the Future Care health insurance programme financially sustainable and develop a national strategy for managing increasing numbers of dependent seniors.Human rights advocates are also hoping that Government makes good on its promise to end sexual orientation discrimination, with the Center for Justice engaging in last minute lobbying this week (see separate story).Adding to the pressure for social programmes is the need to keep the peace with, and trim the costs of, labour. Kevin Grant, president of the civil servants’ union, said top of his Throne Speech wish list is job security for his members. He was keen to remind this newspaper of the OBA’s election promise not to cut public sector jobs — which represent about half of Government’s annual spending.“I have said before and I hope that the new Government realises that it is workers working that will get the country back on his feet. However I do feel through prudent and pragmatic negotiations, a collective agreement can be reached,” Mr Grant said.Government has already hit some rough patches with the Island’s unions — with complaints of failing to properly consult on the term limit policy reversal and threats of industrial action at the post office and the hospital.But another election promise, the Tripartite Economic Advisory Council, composed of labour, Government and business, should go a long way to foster collaboration.Mr Grant told this newspaper that steps had already been made to begin the process of reinstating the Council.