International Airport have been cleared for landing, Transport Minister Wayne Furbert yesterday informed the House of Assembly.

And while the burger franchise has yet to land, the Minister told the House that pending a "full debate on the franchise committee report'' legislative approval of Grape Bay Ltd.'s lease arrangement will be brought before the house "in due course.'' Final approval of the lease will depend on what comes out of that debate, he said.

The announcement -- which caused barely a stir in the lower chamber -- came by way of a ministerial statement announcing the awarding of concessions for retailers at the airport.

Rising before debate commenced on the Speech from the Throne Mr. Furbert told the House Grape Bay Ltd. -- doing business under the name McDonald's -- had been selected to operate the airport's food and beverage concession because it was the only company that applied.

Outside the house, however, he backtracked, admitting one other party had approached the selection committee and expressed interest in selling coffee and snacks to travellers.

The five member evaluation committee also recommended: Goslings be awarded the right to operate the airport's duty free liquor outlet; Airport Shops and Windjammer Gallery be awarded the specialty retail concession; Bermuda Aviation Services Ltd., doing business as the Shoreline Bar, operate the airport's bar concession; Robin Gilbert, operating as Bermuda International Executives Club, operate the executive lounge.

"I'm flabbergasted. It's so bizarre and in-your-face,'' said UBP MP Ann Cartwright DeCouto, who has been spearheading opposition to McDonald's and who last week re-introduced a Private Member's Bill restricting certain restaurants on Bermuda, in particular those associated with overseas operations.

"This reinforces what I've been saying all along. That the powers that be have leaned over backwards to accommodate Grape Bay and to heck with the legislature, to heck with long-standing policy, to heck with public opinion,'' she yesterday told The Royal Gazette .

Despite the Minister's announcement Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said she was determined to press on with her Prohibited Restaurant's Bill and called for bipartisan support from all members of the House.

And she slammed the "arrogance'' and "rash actions'' of the Minister for pushing the McDonald's concession forward before the franchise committee had even presented its report.

McDonald's cleared for landing -- but decision met by turbulence "What does this say. I came here and it was a fait accompli. The arrogance; while the House is in the process of debating (the franchise issue) the Minister says not only are we going to permit it (McDonald's), but we're going to facilitate it on Government property.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto also indicated she feared Grape Bay Ltd. may be planning two burger outlets at the airport, one on each level.

And while vowing her Prohibited Restaurants Bill would make any McDonald's operating at the airport illegal, she also challenged the Cabinet to make public all written and verbal submissions to the franchise committee.

She will have to wait a few more weeks, however, as her private members' bill was suspended on the order paper last night.

RESTAURANT EAT