about Bermuda Customs is "nothing more than a photo opportunity'', the Opposition claimed yesterday.

Senate Opposition Leader Sen. Alex Scott -- who has spoken out against the practices of Customs officers at the airport before -- said it was time Government carried out its last committee's recommendations.

And Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen said Government is using the new committee as a substitute for action.

Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge disclosed last week the committee was formed last month and said he wanted to "lessen the degree of complaints'' his Ministry was getting about Customs. He would not say who its members are.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan formed a special Cabinet committee last year to combat a rash of visitor complaints about being "strip searched''.

In a report unveiled last July, it called for more supervision of "strip searches'' and better training for those carrying them out. It also recommended making better use of alternative methods of stopping the importation of drugs.

Said Sen Scott: "I don't think we need another committee. I think we need to carry out the spirit, if not the direct findings, of the last committee, which I believe was that Customs and Police officers were being less than professional in carrying out their jobs.

"Government now needs to bite the bullet and do something about the problem.

This new committee is nothing more than a photo opportunity.'' He added he believed it was only a handful of Customs officers -- especially female ones -- who were ill-treating tourists and locals.

Sen Scott, who has brought many stories tothe Senate about tourists being mistreated by Customs officers, told of another case yesterday.

He said he ahd been told a black husband and wife who arrived two weeks ago from the United States were treated so badly they made arrangements to leave Bermuda as soon as they left the airport.

He said the husband was a Policeman and after being singled out by Customs to have his luggage searched, showed Police his badge. However, Sen. Scott claimed the female Customs officer said, "how do I know it's real'', and continued searching the couple's luggage and asking questions.

Sen. Scott said they received no apology even though the Customs officer found no drugs.

And he said if it had not been for a taxi driver who persuaded them to stay the two tourists would have left the Island on the next flight out.

"We all support the need for stringent monitoring of arrivals but there is no reason to be unpleasant about it,'' he said.

Mr. Allen was also doubtful the new committee would solve the problem.

"This Government uses committees as a surrogate for action,'' he said. There have been endless committees and reports but no action.'' Added Mr. Allen, "This problem has been going on for years. We (the PLP) certainly support the need for vigilance at the airport. The real problem is the level of tact. Better attitudes have a big role to play.

He said there had been "many damaging reports'' by visitors about Customs, including from a travel agent and a top US model who vowed never to return to Bermuda.

"I hope Government will soon take firm action because these complaints are still coming in,'' he said.

The most recent complaint about Customs came last week from a regular visitor who is so in fear of being body searched the next time she may not return.

Miss Jan Hernandez said the last time she passed through Customs she was forced to match up dozens of allergy pills found in her purse with the plastic containers they came from.

Miss Hernandez, a social worker from Philadelphia, said Customs officers' treatment of her had gotten progressively worse since she first visited the Island in 1978.

On each of the 19 times she has visited since, Customs officers have grilled her and conducted "embarrassing searches'' of her luggage, she said. On a number of occasions narcotics officers questioned her.

"Rather than be treated like a `regular' visitor, I was all but strip searched -- I suppose that is next,'' she charged.

Mr. David Allen.