when it passed the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997.

Community Affairs Minister Sen. Yvette Swan said the offence dated back to the days of slavery when it was illegal for a slave to walk too far from the master's house without a pass.

Consequently, she said it was a relic of slavery and Government felt it was time to remove it.

Sen. Swan said it was a timely piece of legislation but this received jeers from the Opposition benches. "It's about time that it was removed,'' they asserted.

Sen. Neletha (Honey) Butterfield (PLP) said the bill had been on the books since 1926 or 71 years and slavery was formally abolished in 1834.

"We welcome it,'' she said. "But I wonder about the number of black males who have suffered under this. We should also look to see whether there are any other laws that need to be deleted.'' Sen. Butterfield said that would be a proper job for a law student in the Attorney General's chambers.

Senate Opposition Leader Milton Scott said that he was concerned about the numbers of men under 40 who now have a prison record for wandering abroad.

"I am sure every right thinking Bermudian will welcome this amendment to the Summary Offences Act,'' he said.

Senate President Albert Jackson (Ind) said it appeared there had been an increase in the amount of street begging and there needed to be a positive solution to that activity because it was unacceptable.

More Senate reports: Page 6