thrilled about the proposed purchase of a large piece of open space at the southwestern end of The Causeway. The land, purchased at an extraordinarily generous price from the T.H.H. Outerbridge Trust, is considered the gateway to Bermuda for visitors arriving by air. The Minister is correct in thinking that this is a vitally important piece of land and a key addition to Bermuda's parks system. We see this as another example of Government's clear intention to preserve open space for Bermuda.

The purchase of large pieces of land in Bermuda is not an inexpensive proposition but the public wants it and will therefore have to afford it. When the Blue Hole Hill purchase is added to the large purchases to create a 28-acre park at Hog Bay Level in Somerset we begin to realise just what is being done.

There was a time when Government was seen by the public as not caring very much about preservation. That has changed, and Government seems to have accepted the public message that Bermuda should be protected.

When we consider that just under five acres of the Outerbridge land was zoned for sub-division, the Outerbridge heirs have, as Mr. Miles Outerbridge said, "made a fine donation''.

We look forward to the return of Daniels Head from the Canadian military and the return of the US Naval Annex at King's Point from the US Government so that there will be further progress in looking after Bermuda's land. Daniels Head is ideal open space and there is a great deal of open space at King's Point which can be preserved if the future use of the area is well planned. We have to be careful with the return of these two military sites to ensure that they are not given back to us in poor condition or with useless buildings which have to be maintained at Bermuda's cost. We should have these areas back but we must not accept them back in such condition that they drain Bermuda's budget. Overseas governments which have used the land for so long must be asked to do the honourable thing.

Bermuda must also take steps to ensure that this open space is truly preserved for future generations. Governments come and go with different agendas and different aims and we would hate to think that some future Government of Bermuda might look on this open space as money in the bank and set about selling it off. Thus we might have a futuristic hotel at Horseshoe Bay or condos at Blue Hole Hill with the dolphin pool as a swimming hole.

Bermuda should do the best it can now to render these public open spaces inviolate for the future. It is easy to be lulled into a sense of security and to assume that everything will be all right, but things change and we should take what steps we can to protect the future.