yesterday to push for the Parks Department to be returned to Environment from the Ministry of Works & Engineering.

Premier David Saul moved Parks from Environment to Works when he announced his first Cabinet in August.

But Ms Gordon, speaking during the third day of the Throne Speech Debate, said she wanted Parks moved back to Environment.

By her own words, she "put the Premier on the spot'' over the issue. Through the Planning Department and other aspects, Environment tended to be a "no'' Ministry which irritated people, she said. "There must be a balancing `yes' aspect,'' and that could be provided by Parks, she said.

Parks were important in bringing Bermuda's youth and senior citizens together.

As she left Youth and Sport to take up the Environment Ministry after the recent Cabinet switch with Mr. Tim Smith, Ms Gordon said most people did not get "a warm fuzzy'' feeling about the Ministry of Environment, Planning, and Natural Resources.

People who applied for Planning approval tended to see the department as "an irritant'', she said.

"Anything that is negative tends to get far more Press and is far more obvious than anything positive.'' She recently toured the Planning Department and knew there were first-class people there. A review was under way aimed at making it more "user-friendly.'' It was necessary to make the public understand "we're not saying no to be difficult,'' but to strike a delicate balance between people's needs and the environment.

For example, there were no shanties in Bermuda, and "we've had to do a lot of no-ing to get where we are today''.

Since taking over the Ministry, she had learned a staff review of the building code was under way and she would receive a report to take to Cabinet.

Also, she was looking at a Planning appeal method used in Canada which "removes a lot of the contention'', and might be suitable for Bermuda.

"What we don't want as a Government is to have the integrity of Ministers put into question,'' she said.

Moving to Natural Resources, Ms Gordon said it was amazing that in a 21-square-mile country the flora and fauna was as diverse and as beautiful as Bermuda's people.

Critics said Bermuda was over-built, but "I beg to differ'', she said. People had needs, too, and employing Bermudians would require "sustainable development''.

"Development brings jobs, jobs bring money, money feeds people, and the cycle goes on.'' On Fisheries, Ms Gordon said Bermuda was now a member of the International Convention on the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, and there was a market for bluefin tuna which Bermudian fishermen could serve.

The fishpot ban had been unpopular with fishermen, but in the last month, 40 illegal fishpots had been found, she said.

"That does not help the case of the fisherman who makes the argument that Government is making it difficult for him to make a living.'' The law had to be respected, and Government could negotiate with fishermen only if they came to the table with integrity, she said.

Ms Gordon then touched on her former Youth Ministry, saying "there seems to be a perception that we have not mentioned young people in our Throne Speech''.

But Government had placed the emphasis on Education, which was the first step, she said. "Once we educate our young people, all possibilities open up.

"It's pointless to throw money at a problem that money won't solve.'' It was too bad that many in the community considered the Education Ministry a failure, because the public school system had produced many successes.

However, "we have a percentage of our young people who are falling through the cracks, and any child lost is not good enough''.

Not every child was academic, and too much emphasis had been placed on that in the past. Similarly, "we seem to associate money with success'', she said.

"That's one of the most unfortunate things that's happened to Bermuda.'' Shadow Environment Minister Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams said the Throne Speech contained "absolutely nothing'' but "promises, promises, promises''.

Numerous reports had been issued and many changes had been seen around the world, but in Bermuda "we're still getting promises,'' Mr. Williams said.

"It's about time to get on with it.'' The Throne Speech and the Reply to the Throne Speech demonstrated the difference between the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party, he said.

It was too bad The Royal Gazette chose to publish the Throne Speech in full, and not the Reply. He was sure it had to do with "space'' and the Remembrance Day public holiday, not the Editor favouring one party over the other.

The Government was talking about exploring the sea around Bermuda for possible mineral wealth, but Mr. Williams said some questions had to be answered first.

What would be the environmental impact, and what control measures would be put in place? Who would issue permits for any new industry in Bermuda and what share of the profits would be left in the Country? What would be the job prospects for Bermudians? Mr. Williams expressed concern about Bermuda caves in the neighbourhood of the proposed Ship's Hill development.

Bermudians were known for making a fuss about something and then forgetting about it, but "we are still getting calls about that eyesore on Harbour Road'', Mr. Williams said in reference to a controversial home that was recently built.

When the Minister overturned the Development Applications Board and approved the home in the face of neighbours' objections, it represented "a direct destruction of our environment,'' he said.

The home "should be just torn down''.

Many important issues were not covered in the Throne Speech, like the transportation crisis, overcrowding, electoral and franchise reform, and the plight of long-term residents, Mr. Williams said.

The compendium of Independence position papers that promised citizenship to long-term residents was obviously "a false document,'' he said.

He agreed with Ms Gordon that Parks should be returned to Environment from Works & Engineering.

On Fisheries, Mr. Williams said the PLP supported Bermuda joining ICCAT, adding that local fishermen had been "completely without meaningful support facilities'' for too long.

Part of Marginal Wharf at the former US Naval Air Station could be turned into a fish port and there could be a cannery there down the road, Mr.

Williams said.

Mr. Williams then turned to concerns about proposed development on Cemetery Hill in St. George's.

York Street was the only way out of the Old Town, should there be a serious accident. There was once a plan for a second road around the eastern side of Cemetery Hill that would link up with other roads and provide another way out, he said.

Now, they were talking about building condominiums and swimming pools overlooking the cemetery.

When earlier development was approved, St. George's did not have its present cruise ships and "just panicked'', Mr. Williams said. The Old Town "had to find a way to make a living''.

He urged Government to sit down with architects, groups like SOS and the National Trust, and most of all neighbours, to discuss Cemetery Hill.

Shadow Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Ewart Brown made only passing mention to the Speech from the Throne, calling it "weak'' and saying "there was no real punch or drive or intensity with respect to those areas that affect all of the people in the Country''.

Instead, Dr. Brown preferred to focus on recent political developments in his address, particularly the Tim Smith-Pam Gordon affair.

"It was disappointing, to see (Ms Gordon) removed from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. It is also sad to see that the new Minister represents the 23rd Minister of Youth and Sports in 25 years. Given that this is such an important area, I would hope that in the future we will see some stability in that Ministry.'' In response to concerns that some sports leaders have expressed over the transfer of Ms Gordon, who was a popular figure in the sporting community, Dr.

Brown said: "Because the new (Sports) Minister has assumed his post under at least cloudy circumstances, I predict that funding (for sports activities) will be there, that the new Minister will come up with the money that is required. In my opinion, there is no question that Government will bend over backwards to ensure that the Hon. Mr. Smith is seen in as positive a light as possible.'' Turning his attention to drugs, Dr. Brown derided the Government for saying in the Throne Speech that it "backed'' such institutions as the National Drug Commission instead of "showing them leadership''.

And he lambasted the ruling party for continuing to support Mr. Michael Mello, the controversial chairman of the fledgling Commission for Unity and Racial Equality, after such diverse figures as Million Man March organiser Mr. Rolfe Commissiong and Royal Gazette Editor Mr. David L. White had called for his resignation for saying that racism wasn't a "major'' problem.

"We must stop playing footsie,'' Dr. Brown concluded, "with critical social issues, because that is what we are doing.'' UBP backbencher Mrs. Ann Cartwright DeCouto , who said that the Throne Speech was interesting for both "what it contained and what it did not contain'', focused first on the document's contents -- namely Government's plan to confiscate the proceeds of convicted drug traffickers.

"It ain't gonna work,'' Mrs. DeCouto said of the plan, citing the lack of "money, manpower and white-collar support from the Attorney General's Chambers'' that are necessary to implement such a plan.

Further on Police matters, the MP for Pembroke West Central said the Police Service would do well to admit that the post office clinics which were established in an effort to get more officers into neighbourhood settings last year did not work and should probably be abandoned in favour of more pressing needs.

"What we don't need,'' she said, "is someone sitting around in a post office. Rather, we need good old-fashioned foot patrols through residential neighbourhoods and commercial districts. We need more bobbies on the beat.'' With respect to "matters that were not mentioned'' in the Throne Speech, Mrs.

DeCouto listed anti-stalking laws, an abolition of the former Illegitimate Child Act, a greater enforcement of court-ordered child support payments and the ambiguity surrounding long-term residents of Bermuda as matters that should have been addressed by the Government but weren't.

As a former Environment Minister, Mrs. DeCouto also said that she was "quite concerned'' by the absence of "a proper drafting plan'' for the former foreign Base lands -- "particularly the case of Daniel's Head'' -- and with the increased theft of cedar trees.

"As there are only a few mills that can handle this,'' she said with regard to the latter, "we should put into effect some sort of certification that will ensure that the mills won't, can't mill these cedar trees without some type of written notification from the owners of the property from which the trees were taken.'' Finance Minister Grant Gibbons focused the spotlight of his address on Bermuda's struggling economy -- particularly the need among all Bermudians to "adapt in order to compete''.

"In many respects, we need to open the Island up,'' Dr. Gibbons said, underscoring his point by reporting that the Bermudian economy had failed to grow "in real terms'' since January 1.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister said, visitor spending this year had gone up by two percent over last year, but inflation had increased by approximately 2.5 percent.

As a result, he noted, the economic forecast continued to be "weak'', with a "definite contraction'' of the economy on the horizon if the present decline dragged on.

"Bermuda must compete,'' Dr. Gibbons said, "and it must be outward-looking.'' Relating some of the obstacles that Bermudians will have to confront in an ever-competitive global marketplace, Dr. Gibbons noted that international companies have to feel "welcome and appreciated'' in their offshore investment homes, while "tourists are no longer prepared to wait in long queues or put up with mediocre service'' when they spend their travel dollars.

The Throne Speech debate will be concluded in Monday's newspaper.