A retroactive regime promising zero tolerance for corruption and graft would be a top priority by a Progressive Labour Party Government.

Delivering his party’s “peace and prosperity agenda” in response to the Government’s Throne Speech, Marc Bean said the PLP would immediately enact the Good Governance Act, brought to Parliament in 2012 by PLP Premier Paula Cox.

Saying his party welcomed the latest Auditor-General’s report, the Opposition Leader said his side looked forward to seeing reports on the One Bermuda Alliance’s time in office.

Governance legislation would be “retroactive for all activity” under the former United Bermuda Party, PLP and OBA governments, Mr Bean told the House of Assembly. “Members of the public should take note that while I, as the leader of your future government, can boldly state this anti-corruption position with clean hands and a pure heart, neither the Premier nor any of his colleagues can state the same,” Mr Bean added, charging that the OBA was undermined by the presence in Cabinet of a former Premier who “had to belatedly resign in disgrace” over governance.

He accused the OBA Government of pursuing a monopolistic, oligarchical “race-based political strategy” that neglected Bermudians, and said the PLP would “double down” on education and workforce development.

Bermuda remains in recession, Mr Bean told MPs, giving what he called a classically liberal plan for a diversified economy following on the Vision 2025 plan from February’s Budget Reply.

He called for a technology incubator to be developed at Southside, and a wholesale reform of education and training, with STEM training from the primary level through to a proposed university college.

A PLP administration would transform the Island into a finance and technology or “fintech” jurisdiction, as well as developing the Blue Economy initiative.

Economic diversification was high on the list, with an emphasis on new technologies and services.

Recreational cannabis is also proposed as a means of generating a new market, along with online gaming. Entertainment businesses would be boosted with establishments allowed to operate until 6am.

The 60-40 rule would be dropped from the retail sector, “thus permitting the introduction of non-food international franchises”.

A PLP Government would balance the budget in five years, he said, freezing government spending at 2013 levels for three years.

Meanwhile, the OBA’s airport development would be halted, creating jobs through a renovation of the existing terminal.

Broad tax reforms were proposed: cutting payroll tax, and pegging social insurance payments to earnings. Additionally, an overhaul of the National Pension would make it cheaper to hire Bermudians.

On tourism, Mr Bean said the Bermuda Tourism Authority would lose its independence, becoming “directly responsible to the minister”.

Mr Bean characterised the reply as a blueprint of policy and legislative steps to pursue over a five-year period under a PLP government. “These ideals reflect our party’s proud legacy in its unwavering commitment to social and economic justice. But they also reflect our progressive tradition of reinterpreting those values and ideals in light of changing circumstances, in order to better serve the interests of our people and this great country.”

• To see a full copy of the Reply to the Throne Speech, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.