*** Mr. Walter Lister (PLP) said: "When I first came to the chamber I thought people were bigger than life. He (Dr. John Stubbs) was one of the first people to come across and wish me well. Over the years my respect grew.

"It is a testimony to his life and he has made a large contribution to bringing people together.

"We cannot allow his achievements to fall away. We have to take the gauntlet and go forward from this point and remember what he has done.'' Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess met Dr. Stubbs on the canvassing trail in 1968.

Mr. Burgess also praised him for his care of patients after he had administered medical treatment. He would help them find work.

Mr. Trevor Moniz (UBP) claimed Dr. Stubbs' contribution to Bermuda was immeasurable.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith (PLP) said: "One thing that seems to stand out is how his humanity and his intellect served to enhance his work, instead of stifling it like other people.'' Ms Smith said the House should continue to follow the guidelines laid down by Dr. Stubbs.

Mr. David Dodwell (UBP) said he knew him by his reputation and it seem that his hypocratic oath as a doctor had continued into other areas of his life.

Shadow Minister of Community Affairs and Culture Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams (PLP) said he remembered Dr. Stubbs attending a PLP social event but he was not uncomfortable because he had grown up with everyone there. He said: "They were his people.'' Mr. Richard Spurling (UBP) said: "I knew that he had been suffering from cancer for some time but his natural energy, exuberance and enthusiasm meant he seemed to be disregarding his condition.

"He disguised it so well that his untimely death came as a considerable shock to us.'' While many parliamentary debates were dominated by Dr. Stubbs, Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen (PLP) said many of the most interesting debates were in the coffee room.

Mr. Allen said: "Above all he was a rational man which is something you do not always find in the political arena.'' Human rights campaigner and Shadow Minister of Human Affairs Ms Renee Webb (PLP) said she had worked closely with Dr. Stubbs on the gay amendment. She said: "We in Bermuda have to join the rest of the world in fighting for justice and bringing about human rights in our society.'' Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul (UBP) claimed Dr. Stubbs persuaded him to return to Bermuda to become Permanent Secretary for Education and then stand as an MP for the House of Assembly.

Dr. Saul said: "We owe a great debt to Dr. Stubbs both in the political and medical fields.

"He was a classic renaissance man. I firmly believe that if John Stubbs had decided to concentrate on one thing, like medicine, he would have been pre-eminent in the world.'' Opposition Whip Mr. Stanley Lowe (PLP) was impressed with Dr. Stubbs speeches stating: "He spoke in an erudite fashion, meticulously dotting all his i's and crossing all his t's.'' Mr. Lowe recalled Dr. Stubbs' speech to the House in March, 1993 following from his cancer operation when he declared his disappointment with Bermuda's race relations.

Mr. Lowe described Dr. Stubbs as a man who understood life and who spoke with a passion "and at the end of the day he succeeded.

"History will record he made an outstanding contribution in terms of human rights.'' Deputy Opposition Leader Mr. Walter Roberts recalled Dr. Stubbs' 1965 race relations speech for Saltus Founders Day as an event that made him "recognisable as a force to be reckoned with in Bermuda.'' Mr. Roberts noted Dr. Stubbs' concern over the "mass exodus'' of Bermudians who travelled abroad for medical treatment, some to facilities not even on par with Bermuda's.

Perhaps Bermudians had since learned awareness that they could be spending money overseas for dubious benefit.

Speaker the Hon. Ernest DeCouto thanked the House for sharing the burden of the loss "of our dear friend the Hon. Dr. John Stubbs.

"He set an example for us to follow and I trust we will do so.'' Mr. DeCouto described Dr. Stubbs as a brilliant, articulate, compassionate man who possessed fortitude, charity, kindness, gentility, an analytical mind and a bent for innovation in seeking solutions for a better Bermuda.

"He was a builder of bridges for bringing the races together,'' he said.