new Human Rights Commission member "as a self-proclaimed racist.'' Government MPs went on the attack over remarks said to have been made by Ms Gordon in a TV interview of the appointment of maverick Dr. Eva Hodgson.

But Ms Gordon denied the claims and told MPs: "That's not what I said, not at all.'' PLP MPs, however, pressed on the attack, insisting the Premier had insulted Dr. Hodgson by saying she should not be sitting on the HRC.

Backbencher Derrick Burgess said: "Racism is when someone uses their power to carry out their own agenda.'' And he said Dr. Hodgson had been a victim of that when she three times lost out to lesser qualified white men for jobs at Bermuda College.

He added: "She was also turned down for other jobs under a United Bermuda Party Government.'' Fellow backbencher Dale Butler added Dr. Hodgson had made "a major contribution'' to Bermuda by founding the National Association for Reconciliation.

But Ms Gordon said she had not used anyone's name and said only a member was "self-admitted'' in terms of "racial bias'' -- and denied she had called anyone a racist.

Earlier, the PLP's Ottiwell Simmons told the House that he had been told by several people on a recent trip to America that the cost of flying to Bermuda put people off taking holidays here.

He added, however, that he had passed on the comments to Tourism Minister David Allen , who had promised to look into reduced rates for airline tickets and more flights to and from the Island.

But ex-UBP Tourism Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said flights to Bermuda often travelled back with very low passenger numbers or even empty.

He added: "It's a question of marketing, it's a question of economics and whether Bermuda is able to have a flight at all. They don't have to come here.

"While we are concerned about the high cost, we must be very careful in our condemnation because a lot of these flights are running here at a great loss and nobody goes into business to lose money.'' Environment Minister and ex-Magistrate Arthur Hodgson defended Chief Justice Austin Ward over comments he made during his summing up in a serious sexual assault case.

Mr. Justice Ward told the jury they had to consider whether the alleged victim was sending mixed messages and whether her "no'' was a genuine one.

The UBP's Kim Young slammed the remarks and insisted a woman had the right to say no and have her rights respected.

Mr. Hodgson said that issues of evidence -- whether the man had reasonable grounds for assuming consent -- was one which a judge was obliged to deal with and explain to the jury.

And he said he had always found the Chief Justice "extremely bright, extremely perceptive and very respectful to those who are appearing before him.'' But Ms Gordon said Ms Young had not attacked Mr. Justice Ward, but the issue of a woman's right to say no.

MPs also passed an amendment to the Clean Air Act, which provides for licencing of some businesses, like car spray-painting shops and dry cleaners, in a bid to maintain the Island's air quality.