Cabinet Minister's salaries be raised to $125,000 a year.

The candidate allegedly made the suggestion to Community Affairs Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons.

Mr. Gibbons told the House of Assembly on Wednesday night he was approached by the aspiring politician during a birthday party in Warwick.

It was a politically and racially mixed party -- with UBP and Opposition members present, Mr. Gibbons pointed out.

He said the PLP candidate spoke of the "relatively low'' salaries of Cabinet Ministers.

"He did suggest a $125,000 salary for a Cabinet Minister might be in order.'' Mr. Gibbons recalled the chat while poking fun at the PLP during Wednesday's motion to adjourn.

He said he imagined the candidate -- who came from the east end of the Island -- had told "all and sundry'' of his opinion.

But Mr. Gibbons' speech, while being cheered by his colleagues, caused uproar among the Opposition MPs.

They accused him of starting the baseless $125,000-a-year rumour about the PLP, which had been reported in a Royal Gazette editorial.

Mr. Gibbons, however, denied the accusation.

Earlier, Mr. Gibbons ridiculed the Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen for his support for a Bermuda airline.

The Bahamas airline was some $100 million in debt, said Mr. Gibbons.

Following Mr. Allen's advice would have sent Bermuda plunging into the "quagmire of debt'', scoffed Mr. Gibbons.

He also said the Progressive Labour Party must be embarrassed over its support for a tax on the military bases.

"I would suggest the only tax we would have collected would have been the departure tax,'' quipped Mr. Gibbons, amid laughter from UBP members.

Mr. Eugene Blakeney (PLP), however, took Mr. Gibbons to task over his bases jibe.

Unfortunately, with the overseas personnel appearing to leave the bases, Bermuda has lost a revenue earner.

"We did not have the sense to get some tax,'' said Mr. Blakeney.

Mr. Blakeney also attacked Mr. Gibbons over salaries for Ministers.

It was all well and good for UBP members to keep the lid on ministerial salaries -- they were "millionaires'', said Mr. Blakeney.

A Minister's salary was mere pin money to the UBP, he added.

Directing his fire at the Government benches, he said: "Because of your so-called success you are making sure the ordinary man cannot afford to come up and represent people in the House.'' St. George's South MP Mrs. Grace Bell (UBP) mounted an impassioned defence of the US Naval Air Station.

She said Bermudians should be grateful for the tremendous contribution played by "Uncle Sam''.

Bermuda, and its economy, had benefited by an "incalculable'' amount by the St. David's air station.

"God bless Uncle Sam,'' said Mrs. Bell.

Mrs. Bell said the threat of a PLP Government charging rent had been hanging over the base.

But if it had not been for the "people of St. David's'' Bermuda would have been a "little backwater like Belize''.

Mrs. Bell added Bermuda could face serious expense in the future if the US personnel pulled out.

Bermuda would have to run the airfield and maintain the air strips and the tower.

"We don't know what we are going to face.'' Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Sir John Sharpe said he supported Opposition leader Mr. Freddie Wade's appeal for the political focus to be on policies rather than personalities.

If the UBP and PLP policies were compared, there was no doubt which ones were best.

Sir John said the UBP Government had brought prosperity to the Country, and guided it skillfully through the recession and into a period of recovery.

It had done so better than any other country, said Sir John.

"But we can't stop there. We have to compare the people too and the ability to implement policies.'' A comparison between the UBP and PLP members of the House spoke volumes.

And it would lead to the UBP being returned to Government at the next election, added Sir John.

The Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said it was clear an election was in the air, judging by the debate.

He defending the Corporation of Hamilton from the Opposition attacks.

And he was scornful of PLP boasts they were the "originators of suffrage''.

He was also scornful of claims Opposition candidates were subjected to a vicious rumour campaign.

Sir John said he had heard rumours Mr. Wade was not well, and that someone was being primed to replace him.

Turning to PLP jibes about UBP members being rich, he accused the Opposition of having an "Alice and Wonderland'' mentality.

Bermuda had fared well because Government members had proven successful businessmen -- something the PLP could not match.