days allowing it to press ahead with its plans in Bermuda.

Last week Senators sent the Telecommunications Act 1996 back to the House of Assembly to discuss an amendment made in the Senate.

Efforts to re-introduce the Act in the Senate on Wednesday ended in confusion and it could now have to wait until November before it is finally passed -- and a licence issued.

However, yesterday Mike Kedar, president of TeleBermuda International Ltd, said he hoped a licence could still be granted within the next few days, possibly under the existing Telecommunications Act 1986.

"The Minister, John Barritt, has said he would prefer to issue a licence under the new Act rather than the existing Act.

"The delay is not appreciated. We are geared to go ahead with the public share offering in Bermuda, but we cannot issue the prospectus until the licence has been issued.

"The Minister can issue a licence under the existing Act, and we hope that by next Wednesday he will issue a licence,'' said Mr. Kedar. If it is issued, the licence would have to be amended once the new Act was passed.

The 1996 Telecommunication Act will open up Bermuda to more competition allowing four outside firms -- including TeleBermuda -- to compete within the Island's telephone market.

Last week Senate sent the Act back to the House of Assembly after a minor amendment was passed.

It meant it would be November before the Act could again be debated in the House, but Sen. Gary Pitman argued it could be discussed again in the Senate and tabled a motion that debate should be re-opened.

However, Senate President Albert Jackson recommended that Sen. Pitman's motion should be withdrawn -- throwing the whole issue into confusion.

It is not known if the Act will be debated when Senators meet again on Wednesday as legal advice is being sought on the situation from the Attorney General.

There are three possible ways forward to open the telephone business to competition -- granting licences under the existing Act, recalling the House to debate the amendment or pushing ahead with a debate in the Senate.

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