Bermuda's human rights laws.

Development and Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill, also in charge of Human Affairs, yesterday tabled the new legislation in the House of Assembly.

And he said: "We focussed on equal pay for men and women, which is obviously extremely important in Bermuda.

"What we want is equal pay for equal work of equal value -- it's an important piece of legislation whose time has come.'' Mr. Dill said women currently make up more than half the total workforce in Bermuda.

He added hard-and-fast statistics on sex discrimination in pay were difficult to come by.

Mr. Dill said: "All we have is anecdotal evidence -- but I believe in the UK, the differential between men and women is something like 25 percent. But in Bermuda it's difficult to say.'' Mr. Dill said many countries had introduced legislation and later amended it when problems arose.

He explained: "It's easy to say there should be equal pay for men and women -- but those who are minded to circumvent that will try to do so.'' But he said Bermuda had opted for the "simplest possible legislation to avoid any ambiguity.'' The Human Rights Amendment Act changes the law to ensure equal pay for women and men performing the same job.

The only exceptions are where pay differences are due to seniority, a merit system or where salary rates are calculated by "quantity or quality of production or performance.'' But Mr. Dill added the legislation can also be used to protect men doing the same jobs -- but who feel a grievance over different pay rates.

He said: "This legislation will go a long way to satisfying all those who think they may have a problem in this area.'' Mr. Dill added the complaints procedure would be the same as other cases of alleged discrimination like sex and race.

The Human Rights Commission will hear complaints and issue its findings, which will be binding.

MPs will are expected to debate the legislation during an extra session of the House on Monday.

Mr. Dill said: "We expect it will be very well received by the entire House -- it's difficult to imagine anyone disagreeing with the principle.'' He added it was the latest in a series of pieces of legislation designed to promote equality over the five years he has handled the Human Rights portfolio.

HOUSE EXAMINES GROUND LEASE DEAL HOA House examines ground lease deal Bermuda will be utilising its natural beauty to venture into the realm of eco-tourism.

The House of Assembly yesterday considered a ground lease agreement between the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) and Destination Villages Daniel's Head Bermuda Ltd.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the property would primarily consist of 125 "eco-tents'' made of fabric stretched over a wooden structure on a concrete base.

Mr. Dodwell stressed that "nothing will undermine quality'' within the complex.

The facility would allow visitors and locals alike to see wind and solar power at work.

Mr. Dodwell said a considerable number of jobs would be created and he pledged to give locals business opportunities on the property.

He said the facility is expected to have a community centre, an arts and crafts display, and an aqua-centre for kayaking, scuba diving, and other water activities.

Mr. Dodwell said the environmentally-sensitive project would create a "win/win'' situation for locals.

The Opposition was generally supportive of the proposition, but Opposition MP Walter Roberts expressed concern over the large number of units on the 19-acre space of land.

And Mr. Roberts sought assurances that locals would have access to areas of beach on the site.

But former Environment Minister Irving Pearman said the area would not be congested "by any stretch of the imagination''.

ELDERLEY HOUSING COMPLEX SUPPORTED HOA Elderly housing complex supported A move to develop a housing complex for the elderly was widely supported by members of the House of Assembly yesterday.

The proposed lease dealt with an area of land at Southside -- the former Naval Air Station in St. David's.

The Bermuda Land Development Corporation (BLDC) would rent 1.8 acres of the land to the Bermuda Housing Trust (BHT) for a period of 129 years and three months.

The Trust would be obligated to create affordable housing rental units -- a minimum of ten single-storey family housing units within a two-year time frame.

And Development and Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill noted that the Trust had $2 million in funds set aside for the project.

Mr. Dill said the initiative was "yet another step in providing affordable housing for all of us in Bermuda''.

Housing Minister Wayne Furbert hoped another 30 units would be built at the Morgan's Point area in Southampton in the next year.

ALLOW ACCESS TO ALL BEACHES -- MPS HOA Allow access to all beaches -- MPs The Government should allow access to all the beaches at the proposed eco-tourism resort at Daniel's Head.

Walter Lister said it was important that local people retained access to all beaches at the development, not just one.

And he said he was concerned at the idea of putting wooden cottages into the water, citing possible problems with storms and hurricanes.

Human Affairs Minister Jerome Dill interjected that the beaches still had access to the public.

Reginald Burrows said Bermuda had too many private beaches and all should be open to the public. He cited examples of beaches that had been lost to the public over the years.

Renee Webb called for an amendment to the lease for Daniel's Head to open up all the beaches there.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said the $8 million project would be beneficial to Somerset village, and would bring jobs and opportunities to locals there.

He anticipated it would bring 40 new jobs and reap the Government $1 million in revenue.

Any fears about the siting of cottages would be dealt with by the department of planning, and he said a similar development by the same company was back in operation nine days after a hurricane -- compared to months for traditional resorts.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen said the PLP could claim success for the project, since they had been pressuring for it for years.

"It has been a late conversion,'' he said. "There has been a sudden and blinding light. Better late than never.'' He said this type of concept had been successful in the Caribbean and Africa, and Bermuda was finally catching up.

John Barritt said it was a wonderful opportunity for Bermuda but said there was a need to move slowly when it was something new.