overall propserity of Bermuda, Finance Minister Grant Gibbons warned on Friday.

Dr. Gibbons, speaking on the final day of the Throne Speech debate in the House of Assembly, said there were various areas of international business which could be improved after careful examination.

One was foreign trust companies, which were allowed in Bermuda on the basis that they would bring business with them.

"I think we have been quite successful with that,'' said Dr. Gibbons. "We may need to broaden the market they are allowed to do business in.'' The whole issue of franchise policy also needed to be examined, as well as investment management business and the potential of creating offshore markets.

But he warned of the drawback of liberalising, or freeing up, areas of international business to produce more jobs and boost revenue for Bermuda.

"Liberalisation is clearly a delicate process. We must make sure we advance the prosperity of Bermuda and not damage it.'' Turning to the Government sector of the economy, Dr. Gibbons said his party was committed to "prudent'' economic policies.

"Government's current tax fiscal policy is one of the most stable in the world.'' Dr. Gibbons said Bermudians faced very low tax bills, but he warned that even growth in GDP and the decline in tourism this year had implications for Government revenue.

Head taxes and Customs duties, for instance, were becoming eroded as a main revenue base.

Government, too, had to find increased funds for running the Airport, for financing Police restructuring and meeting wage settlements which were beyond inflation, said Dr. Gibbons.

"What are the implications? Government, in order to meet Budget needs, has to broaden its revenue sources. Government needs to continue to examine spending priorities. Last year we tried to broaden the tax base.

"We need to avoid revenue raising initiatives which negatively impact inflation.'' Turning to the Bases, Dr. Gibbons had nothing but praise for the way air operations were now being handled following the pull-out of the US military personnel.

Pilots had commented that communications were being run in a "first-class'' manner.

Even though air operations were being handled by far fewer personnel now, safety improvements had been put in place at the airport, said Dr. Gibbons.

He went on to scotch PLP claims no Bermudian had been trained following the US pull-out.

This was manifestly incorrect -- Bermudians, for example, had been trained in such areas as weather observation, and crash, fire and rescue.

Dr. Gibbons said Government hoped to use the Base properties to create new opportunities for business, and to integrate the land into the social fabric of Bermuda.

The Broad Use Plan, said Dr. Gibbons, provided a framework for the future of the properties, and legislation would follow.

Dr. Gibbons said there were plans to set up a Land Development Corporation responsible for marketing the Base properties.

He continued by attempting to shoot down arguments for Base properties to be used for low-income families.

It was wrong to move people about "like pawns'', and many of the homes were sub-standard, with wooden frames in poor condition, said Dr. Gibbons.

He added US Navy personnel had told him it would be "immoral'' to transfer people into the properties.

Turning the homes over to low-income families would be akin to eating "seed corn''.

"You don't get a return on your investment.'' Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox immediately went on the offensive over Dr. Gibbons' remarks on the Bases.

He asked why Base properties could not be used for young people needing a house for the first time.

Mr. Cox also rapped Dr. Gibbons for over-emphasising the role of labour in industrial relations.

The problem with industrial relations often stemmed from management not wanting to sit down with labour leaders.

"That is why there are problems in our hotels.'' Mr. Cox said Dr. Gibbons had talked about "quality people'' being needed to help Bermuda's economy. This was obviously a reference to foreigners.

But, said Mr. Cox: "The Minister should not think about bringing people from overseas.

"He should talk about removing the impediments in the system. We have got Bermudians who are getting qualifications, but can't get jobs.'' The Throne Speech, said Mr. Cox, should have told the Country about Government's plans to restructure education, and help Bermudians acquire necessary skills for the modern world in such areas as economics, political sciences and computer technology.

The Throne Speech should also have outlined how impediments to qualified Bermudians achieving the top jobs would be removed.

"Government is not concerned about people's needs. It is concerned about people in it getting a bigger return.'' A classic example of this, said Mr. Cox, were remarks last week by former Premier Sir John Swan which suggested he favoured casinos in Bermuda.

The implication was that Sir John had a vested interest in casinos coming here, added Mr. Cox.

At this juncture, Government backbencher Maxwell Burgess jumped to his feet on a "point of order''.

He said Mr. Cox had implied Sir John had an interest in hotels and casinos.

Such comments should be proven, or withdrawn, said Mr. Burgess.

Deputy Speaker Stanley Lowe , however, allowed Mr. Cox to continue.

Mr. Cox immediately underlined the plight of Bermudians unable to get funding, such as mortgages, from financial institutions.

It was all very well for Government to talk about creating competition -- but competition had to be "fair and square'', said Mr. Cox.

Mr. Cox said the Throne Speech should also have addressed the problems faced by women.

It should have told Bermudians how obstacles impeding the advancement of women -- as well as men -- in the workplace could be removed.

"If we can remove all impediments such as these we can tell young people `go legal, you don't have to sell drugs'.'' Government backbencher Mr. Rick Spurling concentrated his speech on the east end, and the Base lands.

He said people, anxious to see the lands redeveloped, needed to be patient.

Mr. Spurling said the PLP had suggested three uses for the lands: a magnet for small businesses; a fishing centre; a place for sports and recreation; and a site for low-cost homes.

Addressing each idea in turn, Mr. Spurling said: "The Broad Use Plan embraces the concept of enticing small businesses, and introducing a licensing procedure.'' He applauded the idea of a fishing centre as well, but asked: "Where will the money come from?'' Mr. Spurling also saw nothing wrong with sports and recreation, saying the Broad Use Plan had embraced this.

But he took issue with the idea of low-cost homes, backing Dr. Gibbons' arguments and adding some of his own.

He believed it would be wrong to concentrate low-income families in one particular area. This would make them even more depressed.

"They should be spread throughout the community,'' he said, adding this would help to uplift them.

Mr. Spurling went on to focus on Bermuda's sluggish economy, warning competitors, such as the Cayman Islands, were gaining ground.

People were still very cautious about spening, and were not using risk capital.

There were, however, encouraging signs, including proposals to improve St.

George's Club, Sonesta Beach, and Elbow Beach, said Mr. Spurling.

Mr. Spurling continued by defending the role of foreigners against attacks by the Opposition.

It was only through foreign investment that Bermuda got into the tourism industry, he said.

Cablevision, too, had been reliant on foreign investment, he added.

If qualified Bermudians were being supplanted by foreigners in the workplace, as the PLP maintained, this should be looked at.

But such abuses, said Mr. Spurling, should not detract from the benefits Bermuda derived from overseas.

Foreign investment created jobs, Mr. Spurling said. It might mean more foreigners, but that was all right as long as there were more jobs for Bermudians.

He did not propose changing the 60/40 Bermudian ownership rule for companies, but suggested an existing procedure which allowed foreigners to own more than 60 percent of a company could be used more often, where appropriate.

The Minister of Finance could issue a licence which bent the 60/40 rule after considering the economic situation, the conduct of the company and its shareholders, the advantages or disadvantages for Bermuda which might result, and the desirability of maintaining Bermuda's economic resources in Bermuda's control.

"Foreign companies don't want to invest millions if they can only control 40 percent of a company and its profits,'' Mr. Spurling said. "It's unrealistic.

They simply won't do it.'' Mr. Reginald Burrows (PLP) said tax concessions were given when the then Holiday Inn was built in St. George's, meaning that Bermudian taxpayers in general contributed to the project while "certain persons in the community at that time benefited financially''.

And the overseas contractor who built the hotel did not buy supplies locally.

"I would like to see that hotel opened so it could be an asset to the people of Bermuda who made such a valuable contribution to the construction of that hotel,'' Mr. Burrows said.

Turning to the "war on drugs,'' Mr. Burrows said it was obvious that Bermuda did not have one, because nothing was being done about the biggest problem -- alcohol.

"It reminds me of trying to kill an elephant with a flyswatter,'' he said.

Unless alcohol was targeted, Bermuda would be "throwing good money after bad money'' by continuing to target illicit drugs.

Mr. Burrows said he was "quite concerned'' about the Prisons department. He understood that the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons was "not allowed to go to Westgate''.

And housing juvenile male offenders at the women's prison was "a complete failure'' which had to stop, he said. "It is not working and something should be done to move these young men from 16 to 21 years old away from some of these adult females,'' Mr. Burrows said.

"I will not tell you of some of the things which I have heard have been going on at that particular facility.'' Moving to the Police, Mr. Burrows said it appeared the Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner were "not on the same wavelength,'' and would have to do a much better job of working together if the service was to be improved.

On transportation, he said 50 to 60 buses from the Public Transportation Board's 100-bus fleet were not working on any given day. And the new facility on Palmetto Road was in bad repair. The roof was leaking and the air conditioning did not work much of the summer. Employees there had nearly gone on strike as a result.

Mr. Burrows noted the high unemployment rate among black males. In a materialistic society, many who could not find legal work turned to illegal methods like drugs to make money, he said.

And there was a lack of mortgage funds in Bermuda, Mr. Burrows said. He knew of a man who had saved $200,000 but could not get a bank mortgage to buy a $400,000 home.

In his first speech as Youth and Sport Minister, Mr. Tim Smith said he was "delighted'' and "excited'' about his new job.

"Anyone who knows me knows that if someone mentions young people to me there is a twinkle in my eye,'' he said.

He promised to consult with users of sports facilities and not dictate policy.

"I keep a very open mind on most items,'' he said.

It would be difficult to follow former Minister Ms Pamela Gordon , said Mr.

Smith, who promised "a timely and economic completion of the National Sport Centre at Prospect''.

He wanted to explore a better marriage between sports and the business community.

Citing his own credentials, he said he was involved in Kite Day at Horseshoe Bay for many years, had been very involved in the annual Bermuda Day Parade, loved tennis, and had played rugby with the Whitney Sevens.

He knew a little about soccer, cricket and netball and "I've played a heck of a lot of volleyball,'' Mr. Smith said.

He said there were some parallels between Youth and Sport and his previous Ministry -- Environment. Both required "a vision for the future,'' he said.

Shadow Transport Minister Mr. Dennis Lister said Government was preaching peace, prosperity and welfare while continuing to ignore the people.

A community group he was involved with in Sandys Parish had written the Premier in September requesting a meeting about working together with him.

"This is almost December, and there's no meeting yet,'' he said.

And Transport Minister Wayne Furbert had mentioned an upcoming meeting with his Shadow Minister when he spoke during the Throne Speech debate.

"I was surprised, I was taken aback, because I was totally unaware of the forthcoming meeting,'' Mr. Lister said. "That was two weeks ago, and still, two weeks later, I still am not aware of such a meeting.'' Mr. Lister felt such comments were "all about sounding good''.

At least Mr. Furbert addressed Transport matters in his speech, unlike the previous Minister, Mr. Lister said.

But he talked about some issues, like tinted windows, cars being registered at other homes, and LP licences, as if he had just discovered them. And when he talked about people being able to get their new licences from the TCD by mail, he sounded like he did not know they already could.

"I was encouraging them to,'' Mr. Furbert said.

Turning to the antique cars that visited Bermuda this summer, Mr. Lister said it was a wonderful thing to see the cars touring Bermuda roads.

But local car buffs who brought in such cars were unable to use them on the roads, he said. The Motor Car Act said cars imported for use on Bermuda roads could not be more than six months old. The same applied to cycles.

Mr. Lister noted that during Mr. Furbert's speech he had encouraged people to ride air conditioned public buses while they enjoyed food and drink,.

But, "I always thought there was a policy against eating and drinking on our buses.'' "I put that in place while I was the chairman,'' said House Speaker Ernest DeCouto .

Parents were not concerned about air conditioned buses, but efficient and reliable service for their children who were students, Mr. Lister said. But half the buses were out of service on any given day, sometimes because there were not enough tyres. "It's shameful.'' Mr. Furbert maintained he only had a small share in the ownership of a bus line serving the Airport, but it was still a conflict of interest, Mr. Lister said.

"Whether you hold 100 percent or one share, you put up your money to make a return,'' he said. "To make a profit you try to monopolise the marketplace and cut others out.

"Those you must cut out are the taxi drivers,'' he said. "Clearly, the Minister has a conflict of interest.'' Mr. Lister said he disagreed with the decision to move Marine and Ports, which included the ferries, to Tourism from Transport.

In her first speech as Environment Minister, Ms Pamela Gordon criticised the Premier's decision to move Parks from her ministry to Works & Engineering.

"I hope that her stance will give courage to the Minister of Transport to demand that the Premier replace Marine and Ports back under the Ministry of Transportation.'' Mr. Maxwell Burgess (UBP) said the Country had an obligation to create new employment opportunites.

Times were difficult, and businesses could not pay out more than they were earning, but employees could accept deals whereby they would share in increased profits, Mr. Burgess said.

Nobody ever took their piece of the pie and handed it over willingly, so the pie had to be made bigger.

The Bases presented that opportunity, he said.

Mr. Burgess called on all Bermudians to give education top priority.

"I urge the whole community to take politics out of education.'' Mrs. Lois Browne Evans (PLP) scolded Mr. Burgess for trotting out cliches.

But Mr. Burgess retorted: "I make no apologies for not being original.'' It was people's attempts at coming up with original ideas that had stymied efforts to improve education, he said.

Mr. Burgess said he had never known such "uncertain times'' in Bermuda.

Finding an answer to fulfil the dreams of making the Island peaceful and prosperous was important to Government.

Shadow Minister of Health, Social Services and Housing Ms Renee Webb expressed amazement at Mr. Burgess's call for a Royal Commission to look into the plight of black males.

MPs call for reforms in the prison system It had been equally amazing to hear former Premier Sir John Swan talk about the same issues.

"It amazes me to listen to these people who have been part of Cabinet, who were in a position to do something about the plight of black people, but chose to do nothing or very little,'' she said.

There was an explanation for their inaction: both were profiting from the current system.

Ms Webb said the PLP, since its inception, had cried out for the problems experienced by blacks to be addressed.

But such calls had fallen on deaf ears.

"We were told all we could talk about was race.'' Now, however, the UBP Government had accepted institutional racism existed and created a Ministry of Human Affairs, said Ms Webb.

"They recognised for the first time in their history that we had a problem of race.'' Ms Webb wondered why the current Premier David Saul , a white man, should be convinced there was a problem of racism when his predecessor, Sir John Swan, and Mr. Burgess, both black, had done little to tackle it when they were in the Cabinet.

Ms Webb went on to deplore the omission of the subject of prisons in the Throne Speech.

"We have a serious problem in Bermuda with crime, and Westgate is almost full, with very few beds left. We've also had a mini-riot and a prison officers walkout.

"The prisoners receive very little counselling. If you want to decrease the recidivism rate you have to do it while you have a captive audience.

"Most of the prisoners spend their time playing cards, listening to music, and what we call `chilling out'. Education is one of the keys that could help reduce recidivism.'' Ms Webb said education in prison should be mandatory.

Ms Webb addressed as well the problem of delinquent fathers not making child support payments.

She called for action against delinquent fathers, saying she could not understand how men justified not paying child support.

"We have a bunch of dysfunctional men out there. A lot of women are forced on to financial assistance.'' She recommended placing delinquent dads on the US Stop List, preventing them from travelling to America as a last resort.

Mr. Trevor Moniz (UBP) said one immediate question posed by the Throne Speech was: How much would it cost to have an effective Police Service? There were also items of law reform which needed addressing, said Mr. Moniz.

One of these was the reformation of matrimonial law.

Mr. Moniz said every other country had made significant steps in improving the divorce process.

He also urged Government to move forward with unfair contract term legislation.

And he called for the formation of a register of MPs' interests, which should be regularly updated.

The need for such a register was underscored by the suspicions over Sir John Swan's suggestion last week that casinos should be set up in Bermuda -- some people thought the former Premier had a vested interest in such a development.

Turning to cultural tourism, Mr. Moniz said people came to Bermuda to see those things which made the Island unique, such as forts and monuments.

It was important, therefore, to ensure Bermuda exploited cultural tourism.

Mr. Moniz then turned to the problem faced by long-term residents without the security of status. It was disappointing the issue had not been addressed by the Throne Speech.

A number of people had been in Bermuda up to 20 and 30 years, contributing vastly to the country.

Clearly, Bermuda had a moral responsibility to these people.

Mr. Stanley Morton (PLP) said Bermuda had to recognise its racial divisions.

White supremacy remained a problem, and blacks still suffered from feelings of inferiority.

Mr. Morton said blacks, for example, were disadvantaged over housing; while living in poor conditions, they faced ever rising rents.

In the job market, too, blacks were discriminated against, he added.

He knew of the case of a young Bermudian fired from a job without reason. This was an example of the unfair employment practices in Bermuda.

Mr. Morton said he hoped Government's aim to bring "prosperity, peace and welfare'' to Bermuda was not simply designed to appease blacks.

Unless Bermudians found employment, there was the potential for unrest, he warned.

Dr. Clarence Terceira (UBP) began by congratulating Opposition MP Mr. Stanley Lowe on becoming Deputy Speaker.

He went on to express his interest in the Police Strategy document, and backed efforts by the Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall to reorganise the Service.

Dr. Terceira applauded Police moves to tackle the supply side of the drug problem.

It was pleasing to learn the Commissioner was beefing up the narcotics squad.

Backing up a call by fellow backbencher Mrs. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Dr.

Terceira also implored the Government to offer status to residents who have been on the Island for 20 years or more.

As a former Education Minister, Dr. Terceira said he was particularly concerned about recent Government suggestions that the Prospect mega-school -- of which he was a main proponent -- might be curtailed.

"I support the (Education) Minister and the Government in 95 percent of what they said in this Chamber,'' he said, "but I do take exception to what was said about possibly altering the restructuring programme. On that score, I would encourage them to do the right thing for the students of Bermuda -- and the right thing is to follow the restructuring plan as it was laid out by so many Bermudians and not mess around with it.'' Focusing on the Throne Speech's main themes of "peace, prosperity and welfare'', Mrs. Grace Bell (UBP) said the Government could go a long way to achieving those goals by guaranteeing that every Bermudian is "adequately employed''.

"It (gainful enployment) has a direct correlation to crime, violence and all the other ills that are plaguing this Country. It has the greatest bearing on the lifestyle of every citizen of this Country.'' On that note, Mrs. Bell stressed the importance of a national retraining bill, and urged the Government to proceed with one "post haste''.

On the theme of racism, Mrs. Bell applauded The Royal Gazette for recently launching a series of articles on the subject, and gave favourable mention to the work of the National Association for Reconciliation and Dr. Eva Hodgson.

She also said that it might be a good idea if the terminology in the current dialogue on racism were changed and made more constructive.

"I don't want to hear about racial tolerance and religious tolerance,'' she said. "I don't want to be `tolerated'. I want to hear about respect.'' Citing the absence from the House debate of Women's Issues Minister Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte, Shadow Women's Issues Minister Mrs. Lois Browne Evans said that she had felt during the recent session like she was "shadowing a shadow''.

Further on the Premier's recent reorganisation of Cabinet, Mrs. Browne Evans said: "We now have a Women's Affairs Ministry and we already had a Human Affairs Ministry. I don't know how the Government intends to take care of the Country's problems with these piecemeal `affairs' and come up with ideas that are befitting the 21st century that we are about to enter.'' Health and Social Services Minister Harry Soares said there was "too much negativity'' in Bermuda right now.

"I would hope, that eventually we can put a lid on all this negativism. The glass isn't half-empty -- it's 99 percent full.'' On an area that is putting a major strain on the Social Services budget, Mr.

Soares said "there is a cycle in our society that we as Bermudians must be committed to breaking -- and that is the cycle of social assistance. It may be time to start putting conditions on it.'' Citing one possible condition as a mandatory programme for upgrading skills, the Minister announced too that prison staffing levels are being reviewed and a halfway house is being looked at.

Mr. Soares said "Government has also decided to extensively renovate and extend'' the Island's secure residential facility for youths at Prospect.

Technology and Information Minister John Barritt once again stressed that the Throne Speech slogan, culled from the House of Assembly's morning prayer, was a laudable one.

"In concentrating our sights and resources on three areas -- crime and drugs, education reform and the development and growth of the economy -- we can only have but one goal in mind,'' he said. "And that is: to advance the peace, prosperity and welfare of these Islands. The prayer is no joke.'' Nonetheless, Mr. Barritt said, the Throne Speech should be regarded as more of a "road map'' than a list of promises, and he urged all Bermudians to start showing more a little more personal and parental responsibility.

Government, Mr. Barritt suggested, should try to work in tandem with the responsible individual. As an example, he cited the fact that the collection of unpaid child support payments had improved in recent years, but that more women "should think twice before they embark on a particular lifestyle'' as single mothers.

"While I'm all prepared to help women,'' the Minister said, "sometimes you should stand up before you lie down.'' Mr. Walter Lister (PLP) suggested Bermuda market itself through the Internet -- an international communications network of computers.

Mr. Lister went on to attack many TV programmes which spewed out a "diet of filth''.

In particular, he attacked afternoon programmes in which intimate details of people's lives were broadcast.

Mr. Lister then focused on Police working conditions, saying they needed to be improved.

Since the public demanded a great deal from the Service, it was important to ensure Police stations were adequate.

And he called for a lighting system which would tell MPs whether their House of Assembly microphones were switched on or not.

Premier David Saul then concluded the Throne Speech debate, saying the essence of it had been "people, people, people''.

Dr. Saul repeated Government would be reviewing the education restructuring plans.

But he stressed this was not an attempt to throw out the proposals.

Moves were also under way to address the problems of drugs and crime. And already there were encouraging signs that the Police Service was improving.

More Policemen, for instance, were being put on the beat, said Dr. Saul.

The Premier then sought to explain why the Parks Ministry had been combined with Works and Engineering.

It was an attempt to improve efficiencies on the maintenance side, he said.

In conclusion, Dr. Saul said he was gratified by the good reception the Throne Speech had received from the public and the PLP.

This boded well for the future of the Island, and the coming Parliamentary session.

But while Bermuda had much to brag about, there was still plenty to be done, such as curing racism, said Dr. Saul.

"We have much to achieve.''