who need psychological treatment from unqualified doctors.

Health & Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert introduced the Psychological Practitioners Act 1998 noting that it covered the registration of psychologists and the regulation of the profession.

It was prepared with the help of local psychologists and effectively provided protection for the public from unqualified practitioners, he said.

He noted that the bill was very important as it encouraged local psychologists to continue their educations and keep up with changes and developments in their field.

Shadow Minister of Youth, Sport, Parks & Recreation Nelson Bascome said he was pleased to see the bill but voiced concerns that there were not more Bermudians involved in the profession.

Government House Leader Quinton Edness echoed Mr. Bascome's plea for Bermudian psychologists, noting that the psychologists presently serving the Island were "swamped'' with work.

This applied to the area of counselling as well, he added, particularly in the area of drug and alcohol abuse. Many people suffering in this area were unable to get help because they could not afford it and did not have any insurance.

Shadow Health and Family Services Minister Renee Webb gave her support to the Act and applauded the setting down of guidelines and standards for the profession.

Government backbencher Ann Cartwright DeCouto gave background about why the Psychological Practitioners Act was important.

But Mrs. DeCouto expressed concern that the legislation did not address the recent proliferation of counselling services, citing a "distressing growth'' of people calling themselves counsellors who lack professional training.

She said there needed to be more consumer awareness about the person who gave them treatment, and suggested the public "read the label of the care giver''.

And Mrs. DeCouto added that follow-up medical treatment, such as drug rehabilitation, needed to be given more attention.

Both Human Affairs Shadow Minister Ewart Brown and Government backbencher Rick Spurling agreed, and Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert made a motion to move the act into committee.

During the in committee discussion of the schedule, Ms Webb said she was concerned that Government could run into trouble by only requiring the psychologists' council to have a quorum of three members, particularly if the council at any point expanded.