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Controversy expected in Senate

of the Castle Harbour hotel is likely to dog the Government again today.Senators will meet to discuss the draft order "the Hotels Concession (Castle Harbour Redevelopment) Order 2000,

of the Castle Harbour hotel is likely to dog the Government again today.

Senators will meet to discuss the draft order "the Hotels Concession (Castle Harbour Redevelopment) Order 2000, which caused Opposition MPs to storm out of the House of Assembly last Friday.

It is unclear whether Opposition and Independent Senators will take issue with a claimed abuse of the legislative process, when the order was tabled and debated on the same day.

Speaker Stanley Lowe allowed the rules to be suspended to allow the order to be rushed through. But UBP MPs objected to the haste, which they said circumvented the normal practice of debating items two weeks after they were first tabled.

Senators have had copies of the order since last Wednesday and it was tabled in the Senate on Monday, giving enough notice for its consideration today.

Also on the order paper today is the Rent Increases (Domestic Premises) Control Amendment Act, which is coming back after being rejected by the Senate a year ago.

And although the act, which brings more properties under rent control, has caused the UBP some concerns, they cannot stop its progress as the rules say it must go through after a year's wait.

Senate President Alf Oughton said a vote could be taken and any disagreement registered, but the bill would still become law.

Also on the agenda is the Segregated Accounts Companies Act 2000, Bermuda Monetary Authority Amendment Act 2000, Private Roads (Improvement) Act 1969 (Schedule) Amendment Order 2000 and draft regulations the National Pension Scheme (General) Amendment Regulations.