From Saturday's paper Mrs. DeCouto asked if there would be a special Immigration policy for non-Bermudians being employed at the Bases.

Before Base land was let out on an ad hoc basis, these issues should be discussed on the floor of the House.

Turning to Daniel's Head, Mrs. DeCouto said it would make a very beautiful park.

"I am firmly of the view it should be enjoyed by the people of Bermuda.'' Opposition Leader Frederick Wade said the PLP had campaigned for the return of the Base lands for about 30 years.

For much of the time, the PLP had been sneered at by Government and the media.

Mr. Wade said a comprehensive economic plan, involving St. George's, needed to be worked out.

St. George's should feed off the Bases -- and not suffer from competition.

"There is no need to set up a competing town.'' Mr. Wade suggested a St. George's Alderman or Councillor should be on the board of the new Land Development Company. This would ensure the Old Town's interests are safeguarded.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the legislation was a "bill for the future''.

He did not believe a competing town to St. George's would be formed.

The Base lands provided a chance for the whole of the east end to be developed.

Mr. Dodwell did not agree with the description of the Base lands as a "money-spinner''.

They were an invaluable commodity which would become a revenue earner, he said.

Shadow Youth Minister Nelson Bascome said the Base lands could be used for concerts away from residential areas.

"Let's give music promoters these types of areas.'' He added the lands also provided space and buildings for youth centres, half-way houses, rehabilitation centres or hospices for people afflicted with alcohol and drug problems. A triathlon circuit could also be set up.

The Opposition's Special Assistant Technology and Information Walter Lister pleaded the case of parents and children who marched on Parliament on Friday with a petition, demanding a Sandys youth centre.

Parents have also stressed that they need a place for young people to spend their time doing fun, safe, productive and educational activities.

Shadow Minister of Legislative Affairs and Women's Issues Lois Browne-Evans said: "I am not happy that at the end of the century we are planning to give to a quango powers for as long as 131 years. That goes against the grain.'' Mrs. Browne Evans said that the Base lands were born out of colonialism and short-sightedness.

She added: "There is no war now and there is no cold war. Why are we alienating this land when we have fortuitously got it back.'' And she said that the lease should be for 50 years with an option to extend, more than once if necessary.

She added: "I think we are playing with the future when we are even contemplating giving away this part of Bermuda, which people long resented because it was out of our care and control all that time and to a foreign country at that.'' Renee Webb (PLP) pointed out that it was two years since the US announced it was pulling out of Bermuda and not much had been done to return the land to Bermudians -- and that not many jobs had been created, either.

She said Bermudians were delighted to get access to Clearwater Beach and the adjacent beach and that she had visited Clearwater herself. But Ms. Webb added that people had complained to her about sharp pebbles from the waterline to about ten feet out and asked if Works and Engineering could solve the problem.

Ms. Webb, however, was told that the beach was not a natural one and that the pebbles were right through the sand and beach shoes were the only answer.

She went on to say that 3000 jobs had been promised over the next 15 years from the baselands regeneration.

And she asked Government Ministers how many jobs had been provided since the US left in September last year.

She added she did not want to see another Tucker's Town -- where black families were forcibly removed to a "homeland, just like they had in South Africa.'' And she said that talk of golf and sailing facilities made her suspicious, because they were not the sports of the majority of the population.

Ms. Webb added that bringing up race was not intended to embarrass anyone, but that Bermuda had a history of segregation, racism and colonialism which could not be ignored.

She said: "It's history -- but as a people we have grown up. We know better now and we are trying to make the future better for all Bermudians.

Transport Minister Wayne Furbert said that much of the Base lands comprised the airport, which had been brought under civilian control.

And he said more than 60 jobs in air traffic control, administration, meteorology, security and fire and rescue had been created.

He added that further job opportunities would come from concessions in the retail sector, to be handed out later this year.

Opposition tourism spokesman David Allen echoed concern over the length of the lease.

He admitted there was no question good work had been done at Dockyard by the West End Development Corporation -- but that the PLP had expressed concern over its "sweeping powers.'' And he questioned the salary of the top executive of the Base Land Transition Office, which he said he had heard exceeded even the $140,000 paid to US Bermuda tourist chief Paul Zar.

He added that not only Bermudians enjoyed the Island's open spaces -- visitors took advantage of them as well.

And Mr. Allen said: "The more open spaces we have, the more positive the message we can send to potential visitors to Bermuda.'' But he warned Government: "Your copybooks are blotted and they have been for some time. You should take seriously your stewardship of the public interest.

"It's incumbent on us to have the interests of the people of Bermuda at heart -- even though some members of the front bench of the UBP don't seem to think so.'' Mr. Allen added he was concerned about housing on the Base lands because he suspected the company set up to administer the returned land would "not have the empathy of the average working-class Bermudian.'' But Maxwell Burgess (UBP) said the future economic well-being of Bermuda and the earning of foreign exchange had to be a priority.

He said a piecemeal handing over of buildings to community use as suggested by the PLP would "deny jobs and deny opportunities.'' He added he could understand Parliamentary point-scoring.

But he said: "There comes a time when you have to separate the politicians from the statesmen -- politicians are interested in winning the next election and statesmen are interested in the next generation.'' Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said PLP finance spokesman Eugene Cox had raised concerns about the time taken to audit the accounts of the baselands company.

But Dr. Gibbons said: "The bill certainly states the company has six months to submit accounts.'' And he added if the Government Auditor was too busy to check the accounts himself, he had the power to approve an audit up to his exacting standards.

Dr. Gibbons said that the right to first refusal on the lands would be upheld if the land was ever sold off.

And he added he had spoken to Premier David Saul and the PLP's suggestions would be sought for directors for the new company.

Dr. Gibbons agreed with Opposition members that just another cottage colony was not necessary.

But he insisted what was envisaged was a new and exciting development offering extra value and which would contribute to the revival of the tourism industry.

He said Government accepted that youth and community centres were needed in Bermuda.

But he added: "The bottom line here is that we feel that's not as good an idea as using the space to create jobs and to strengthen our tourist product with a first-class facility.'' Dr. Gibbons agreed with Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto that the Bases would not be a money-spinner for a while. And he did not foresee any special Immigration policies for non-Bermudians working in businesses at the Bases.

"There is no reason, as with the hotels, that current Immigration laws could not be followed.'' After the House went into committee, Dr. Gibbons introduced an amendment to the bill.

To be added to Clause 9, it read: "Except with the prior approval of both Houses of the Legislature, the Company shall not make any lease or letting of any part of the scheduled land to any person for a term exceeding 21 years or for terms renewable at the option of the lessee or tenant exceeding in the aggregate 21 years.'' Controversy then blew up over another part of Clause 9: "Government may lease or let to the Company, for a term not exceeding 131 years, all or any part of the scheduled land or any other land owned by the Government.'' Opposition MPs voiced concern over the prospect of letting to the proposed company land outside the Bases.

And Mrs. Browne Evans moved the words "any other land owned by the Government'' be deleted from Clause 9.

Dr. Gibbons accepted the deletion.

Mr. Browne Evans also called for Dr. Gibbons to table the proposed lease between Government and the company.

It was ridiculous, she said, for MPs to discuss the bill without seeing the lease.

Debate on the bill halted after Government rebel backbenchers backed an Opposition motion to report progress.

The Opposition had wanted the bill to safeguard the interests of Bermudians, or their heirs, who gave up property on the Base lands during the Second World War.

They should receive first refusal on any land made available.

Government, however, argued the Base Lands Development Act 1996 was the wrong legislation for this.