Government Senate leader the Hon. Mike Winfield said.

Club Med was an "unacceptable situation'' to locals and probably even more so to the firm, who had to pay for its maintenance.

The Tourism Ministry was trying to encourage Club Med to either sell or re-open the building, although a sale was the more likely.

"I think steps are being taken in that direction,'' he said.

Government would seek a once-and-for-all settlement of the situation whatever happened.

He was speaking after Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) speculated that Club Med had just "written off'' the property and had no further interest in it.

He understood that three years ago they were asking a Wall Street brokerage house to "flog the property around'' at a price twice what they paid.

Sen. Lister also objected to proposed oil spill burning experiments off the Island, but said Bermuda should study the results of experiments done elsewhere.

Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons stressed the expertise available in Bermuda on oil pollution. The experiment proposal was being closely examined.