Environment Minister Irving Pearman yesterday promised tough new green laws to cut down on pollution.

He said a range of measures would be introduced later this year to clean up car and bike exhaust emissions, matching European and American standards.

And Mr. Pearman said the first cars with catalytic converters would be brought to Bermuda.

The Minister was speaking during yesterday's Environment Budget debate in the House of Assembly.

He said Government would carve out an Environment Protection Act and said there would be a new programme to reclaim and re-use CFC chemicals.

And Mr. Pearman said more open spaces would be bought, there would be a new "green'' City Plan for Hamilton and tighter fishing restrictions to protect marine life.

"This year there will be new regulations to monitor emissions from two-stroke motorcycles,'' he said. "We need to appreciate the extent to which the marine environment is being affected by outboard engines.

"We will also be introducing more restrictions from emissions on automobiles.

The idea is to reach the EU and US standards on exhaust emissions.

"It all means we will need to introduce cars with catalytic converters because right now there are 25 times more pollutants in our atmosphere than in the US, Japan or Europe.'' He said the Environment Department, with a total budget of more than $10 million, would have to divert some funds into clearing up oil finds -- after a spill was discovered on the old Bermudiana hotel building site.

But he added that Government was committed to buying more open spaces and had just spent $1.6 million on Abbot's Cliff, to preserve as parkland.

"In recent years, we have spent $21 million on acquiring 180 acres of open space for the protection and benefit of Bermudians in the environment.'' Mr. Pearman said a centralised new computer system would help to devise the next Hamilton City Plan, which comes into effect in early 1999.

And he said the next land valuation list, due in 1999, would contain 30,000 registered properties.

Shadow Environment Minister Leon (Jimmy) Williams noted salaries for Environment staff had been cut three percent.

"I hope we do not have people in the department who are overworked and underpaid,'' he said.

He also complained that the top of a sewage pipe was visible at Hungry Bay, although there was no leaking sewage.

And Mr. Williams said the Department and the Corporation of St. George's were working together on a project to build a state-of-the-art sewage line out of the East End.

Mr. Williams added: "Some businesses are still pumping raw sewage into the sea. This is unacceptable in today's environment.

"As for other environmental improvements, I would also like to see Flatts Village turned into a walking village and there should be some scheme there to divert traffic.

"There is also an alternative proposal in place now for the Vesey Street National Equestrian Centre development.

"The land is zoned as recreational so I hope the alternative report will be looked at very carefully.'' PLP Devonshire North MP Paula Cox said Devonshire was the subject of "environmental racism'' and should no longer be used as a dumping ground.

Ministry of Environment, Planning and Natural Resources 1998/99 estimates Ministry responsibility: To regulate the development of land, to protect the Bermuda environment, to provide for the valuation of land and to promote the development of agriculture and fisheries in Bermuda, and in so doing promote wise use of land nd effective management of agricultural, fisheries and natural resources.

Budget estimate: $10,739,000 (last year $10,066,000) Revenue: $1,916,000 Budget allocations Ministry of Environment HQ $1,306,000 Department of Planning $2,204,000 Agriculture and Fisheries $6,606,000 Land Valuation $623,000 Environment Minister Irving Pearman