breaking the glass ceiling, gay rights, reforming education, modernising the workplace, retraining workers.

Has the Government got too much on its plate? No Minister or civil servant admits it openly, but there are concerns Government's agenda is bursting at the seams and in need of unprecedented management efforts.

Senior Senator the Hon. Mike Winfield admits the agenda amounts to a "mammoth task''.

"It's going to take a lot of people working very hard to ensure it all comes together,'' he said.

One top civil servant this week said Independence and the Bases alone will keep the Cabinet running off its feet for the next year.

"It worries me to death,'' another said of Government's full agenda. "The Independence issue in itself is enough to keep most bright minds occupied for a long time. It's a concern to Government as a whole. There are limits as to how many balls you can have up in the air at one time.'' Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman said he and his colleagues have held "prioritising discussions'' on the issues.

However, he rejected any suggestion his Government will not be up to the challenge.

"These things will be done,'' he said. "The agenda for the current period is reasonably full, not just for the Government but for the country too.'' Earlier this month, the Premier re-opened the Independence debate following news the UK Government would close HMS Malabar.

He appears to be leaning to a referendum on the issue, which would have to be preceded by an information campaign. The Independence initiative occurred as the Premier was organising a plan for the takeover of military bases -- which he has described as the "biggest single challenge in Bermuda's history.'' On the horizon are two reports Government hopes to use for the creation of a leaner, more responsive and more healthy economy: The Commission on Competitiveness and the Task Force on Employment.

In the background, but no less significant, stand far-reaching education reforms and efforts to rid Bermuda of institutional racism -- the critical issue underlying the election.

Some of these issues are part of the United Bermuda Party's Blueprint for the Future, the document of 110 promises that formed the centrepiece of its election campaign.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said he was skeptical of Government's ability to meet its commitments. Its agenda, he suggested, "amounts to a lot of action without forward motion.'' The Bases closure issue should be the paramount concern, he said. "It's what should be occupying our minds.'' One senior civil servant said Bermuda had been confronted by a "tremendous confluence of events at the same time'', particularly the takeover of British, US and Canadian base lands.

"It's all coming at us in a short time frame, within the next 18 months. The impact of these and other issues on the Bermuda Government is going to be significant.

"No doubt it's a huge task. But for my own part, I don't think there's any reason for us to engage in an exercise of self-doubt or panic. We must deal with things methodically.

"I don't see why the good sense that has served us so well in the past will desert us. We will rise to the challenge.'' One source said it was very possible Government would set up a five-year plan -- the amount of time before it must call the next election.

"One would not expect a quick resolution to all these things in the first year or so,'' the source said. "Five years is not a long period of time, but it's not an unreasonable amount of time to get going.'' The source said it was also important to remember that while Government was grappling with national issues, "the normal processes of Government -- street cleaning, scholarships, street lighting, administration, for example -- would continue.''