Those who violate local Immigration laws will face stiffer penalties if Government proposals outlined in yesterday's Throne Speech are passed by the House of Assembly. Parliamentarians are also set to debate a string of measures intended to protect the environment.

And while a host of anti-terrorism measures are in store, locals can look forward to other aspects of the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) platform for its first term in office going ahead pretty much on schedule. A broad range of other initiatives will be tackled from literacy and litterers to consumer protection and new copyright protection laws. Government also plans to forge ahead with the Alternatives to Incarceration programme.

The Speech from the Throne was, at 30 minutes duration, some 15 minutes shorter than normal thanks to a new format and limited coverage of achievements during the previous session.

And the PLP's fourth Throne Speech was the last to be read by outgoing Governor Thorold Masefield and the first to be heard by Grant Gibbons in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition.

Absent was former Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon.

Proposed reforms, read out by Mr. Masefield, aim for a "stronger focus on economic stability and on enhancing the quality of life for all Bermudians".

Post September 11 economic measures include payroll tax relief for businesses most affected by the decline in tourism and includes taxi drivers. And senior citizens are to face lower land tax bills. Government is proposing to amend the Contributory Pensions Act to improve benefits.

The war against terrorism, as expected, featured in the speech - Government plans to strengthen airport security, raising airport fees to help pay for the additional costs, and continue with efforts to protect its financial services industry from being used as a conduit for funds used to finance terrorism.

"Over the next few weeks and months you will see legislation introduced to bring Bermuda's laws into keeping with international requirements to strengthen fiscal oversight, enhance Police cooperation and our powers of extradition, and to support heightened levels of airline and airport security," said the Governor.

And Government is challenging every Bermuda resident to join in a UN-led campaign to raise funds for people in and around Afghanistan which has been the focus of a military response to the September 11 attacks on the United States, raising fears of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region as winter approaches.

After articulating what it referred to as a "balanced" approach to Bermuda's most contentious issue at the end of the last House session with the tabling of the White Paper on Long Term Residents, Government now looks set to take a harder line on Immigration cheats.

Laws will be proposed which will require deportees to pay for their own deportation, allow the courts to confiscate the proceeds of illegal work and also force sponsors of those who run afoul of Immigration laws to pay for the costs of legal proceedings, including repatriation.

Plans are also afoot which will arguably make it harder to get a marriage license, "especially in cases where one of the spouses is a non-Bermudian". Government is promising "stricter controls" as well as a review specifically targeted at marriages of convenience.

MPs will also spend a considerable amount of time debating environmental protection measures.

Government will be proposing that litterers be subject to on the spot fines with vehicle owners being liable for any litter thrown out of their vehicles. And the long awaited White Paper on Marine Resources will be tabled as will a law protecting Bermuda's historic wrecks. And the Government is also promising to push through laws which would allow implementation of a vehicle emissions testing programme for Bermuda.

Also on the environmental agenda are laws which would give local force to the provisions of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity which is set to be extended to Bermuda next year.

Another UN Convention which will concern the members of the House of Assembly is the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

The issue of Constitutional reform, which sparked off a boycott of last year's Throne Speech by the Opposition United Bermuda Party, got just two lines in yesterday's speech.

"The process of Constitutional reform continues. The Boundaries Commission will be established and its report brought to you for consideration," said the Governor.

And the contentious issue of Bermuda becoming an associate member of CARICOM will also be debated in the new session.

Government also recognises the need to maintain Bermuda's competitiveness as an international business centre. A strategic plan for the development of financial services will be introduced in the upcoming session as well as legislation which follows up on recommendations made in the KPMG review of Bermuda's financial regulations.