The House of Assembly was filled with poignant moments yesterday morning as the Island's legislators paid tribute to David Allen, who died last week of abdominal cancer.

In a two hour joint session of the House, Senators and MPs from both sides of the political divide agreed on one thing - that Mr. Allen, the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) first Tourism Minister spent his entire adult life in service to his country with an enthusiasm that will likely remain unmatched.

His life's work, marked by enthusiasm and sincerity, was lauded as both challenge and inspiration by the more than two dozen legislators who offered their personal tributes.

And the point was not missed that while he spent the last four years trying to breath life back into an ailing industry, he was not to see the fruits of his work. But a number of legislators asserted that he had planted seeds which will benefit all of Bermuda in years to come.

Premier Jennifer Smith began the session by noting that Mr. Allen did not seek accolades for his work but he could "look in the mirror and be satisfied with what he has done".

Many politicians remembered him for his lengthy rebuttals to Opposition criticism of his policies and his finely tuned rhetorical skills.

The public gallery was packed with friends, supporters and civil servants.

"I am often reminded of that old saying 'if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen'," said Grant Gibbons, leader of the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP). "He often created the heat and certainly couldn't stay out of the kitchen."

Dr. Gibbons expressed the hope that Mr. Allen's personal example would inspire others to enter public service.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell, who is off the Island and could not attend the session, sent a message of condolence which was read out by Dr. Gibbons.

Mr. Dodwell shared Mr. Allen's dream of seeing the tourism industry return to the "good old days".

"While he and I disagreed on some aspects of the direction of Bermuda's tourism, we did agree on others. In fact given the adversarial nature of politics here in Bermuda, the public only saw the occasions when we disagreed - which was unfortunate."

There was no shortage of those from among the PLP benches who spoke of their sense of personal loss as well as what Mr. Allen's life and death meant for the country.

As a member of the PLP, said backbencher Wayne Pernchief, Mr. Allen "never made a point of being anything but himself".

"He will probably humble everyone of us in our efforts in crossing racial and political barriers," he said.

Party whip Ottiwell Simmons revealed that Mr. Allen was the "first white man to sleep in my house" and he expressed regret that he did not write his memoirs.

Some also took time to talk about his role in Bermuda's modern political history. Mr. Allen joined the Island's first political party in 1967, just four years after it was formed - a bold move for a white man.

"I don't think we could contain another white man with his type of enthusiasm," quipped Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, a close friend. "We couldn't hold another David Allen, but we certainly could not do without David Allen."

Mr. Scott recalled Mr. Allen's fearlessness during the 1977 riots when his major concern was making sure, in the face of a news blackout imposed by the local Government, that news of the UK Government's reaction to the events were reported in Bermuda.

"In the darkness of night with folks walking around like zombies, I was walking along Court Street with the only white man... there were two of us and only one of us was afraid," Mr. Scott said.

"I'm confident that, yes we have lost a very dear friend, a courageous colleague, a tremendous debater, an excellent colleague, a dutiful son, a loving brother, but we have given him up to a higher power" and "somebody else" would have the benefit of his talents and commanding aura.

"There goes a man who put the extra 'p' in pepper," said the UBP's John Barritt. "He put the extra 'p' in the PLP I think and I don't mean pepper because we all know he was salt. He was prolific, he was provocative and he was prodigious."

Mr. Barritt recalled working with a young David Allen at the Bermuda Sun. "He was from my point of view an editor's dream," Mr. Barritt said. "No matter how much space you had to fill, David Allen could fill it and give you more. And his travel columns were a window to the world for many Bermudians."

Mr. Allen would have made a great weather forecaster, Mr. Barritt joked. "He could speak 100 to 200 words a minute with gusts up to 250. He gave as good as he got. In fact he gave more than he needed to give and caused more of us to rise to the challenge."

PLP backbencher Delaey Robinson reminded the House of Mr. Allen's extraordinary memory.

"I was amazed at how he could trot out facts without any notes to help him along," he said. As for his work ethic, Mr. Allen worked as a full time Minister and often stayed up late to continue working long after everyone else had gone home, Mr. Robinson offered.

Mr. Allen's running mate, Stanley Morton, spoke of how his colleague was the brunt of harsh criticism but through it all his dedication and determination to make a difference never flagged.

"So we the people of Bermuda owe David Henry John Allen a great deal and the only method in which we can perhaps repay him for what he has done is to continue his legacy," Mr. Morton said.

As Mr. Allen was a "caregiver" who "went before the patient", said the Opposition's Maxwell Burgess, "each and every one of us must play a role as caregiver looking out for the patient... our homeland will be a better place and the dreams of our people will be fulfilled."

Rev. Larry Lowe, an AME minister, revealed that the Premier was hoping for a miracle during Mr. Allen's last days.

"I thank God for that faith," he said. "Some of us may not feel that a miracle has taken place but the true quality of a leader comes to reality after the leader has passed. And I believe that there is a miracle in the making. David Allen has laid the foundation for great things to come."

Senator David Burch, who recently filled in for Mr. Allen as Tourism Minister, described a "hands on" Minister.

"One of the greatest criticism is that he travelled to much - I can assure you we certainly got value for money," he said.

And the Senator praised the Tourism Department staff for going over and beyond the call of duty, especially during Mr. Allen's last days.

"I am certain that David is looking down and smiling saying 'nobody said anything like that about me when I was in that chamber'," said Senate President Alf Oughton.

"I'm convinced that no other Minister, no other Government could possibly have handled (the tourism portfolio) better" in such turbulent times. "I do not envy his successor because they will have some very, very large shoes to fill."

Attorney General Dame Lois Brown Evans said that she was as "deeply moved" by David Allen's passing as she had been by the deaths of former party leader Frederick Wade and labour leader Dr. E.F. Gordon.

In politics Mr. Allen was trustworthy and reliable, the former party leader said.

"David was a constant person - who you could expose your back to and there would be no hurling of stones."

And she urged her colleagues not to wait until a person's death before expressing appreciation for their life's work.

"Young or old, it behoves you to look for the true message in a person's life," Dame Lois said. "I constantly hear that there are not enough idols for our young people. There are. And we must get busy and write about them. They must know who their idols are."

"We take solace in the fact that all the good Mr. Allen has accomplished is not going to be interred with him," said House Speaker Stanley Lowe in the closing remarks.