yesterday.

Sen. Leader Gary Pitman said the new policy stressed "controlled expansion.'' He said Bermuda could not cope with unrestricted visits by cruise liners if the Island wanted to protect its unique environment.

And he added that cruise lines were offered long-term security of contract, allowing them to plan ahead without fears for the future.

Sen. Pitman also pointed out that -- unlike many Caribbean islands -- ships docked in the heart of Bermudian communities, which contributed to Bermuda being the second most popular cruise destination after Alaska.

He said that cruise ships paid no Island taxes, employed no Bermudians and did not pay energy costs on the Island.

Sen. Pitman added that cruise ship passengers also spent much less per head than air arrivals who stayed in Island hotels -- hotels which provide both employment and tax dollars to boost the economy.

And he insisted that justified the $4 per berth per night charge set to be levied on cruise ships from August next year.

Although UBP Sen. Noella Haycock admitted that she was not an advocate of the twin port concept, she said Bermuda had to be flexible since the concept was what the cruise ship industry, and more importantly, the passengers wanted.

And Sen. Haycock said the recommendation to set up an entertainment commission was a step in the right direction and maintained that locals were involved in the entertainment industry.

She produced a list that stated that only two, out of 14 hotels on the Island, offered foreign entertainment.

Sen. Haycock also urged the Senators to be open-minded to the idea of water taxis.

Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes said he felt "a certain sympathy'' for Dockyard after all the money that had been poured into the West End attraction.

PLP Sen. Neletha Butterfield said youngsters needed to be taught early in school the local musical heritage.

"The young people need to see what old local entertainers use to do ...,'' she stressed. "We must keep the legacy alive.'' And she pointed out that Sen. Haycock's list did not address the real problem for local entertainers -- the number of nights locals performed.

"No one ever said Bermudians weren't working in the entertainment industry,'' she said. "How many nights are they working? That's what needs to be looked at. Some only work one or two nights a week.'' Sen. Butterfield said working one night a week was "no way to earn a living'' and suggested that foreigners work only one night while the Bermudians work six nights a week.

UBP Sen. ET (Bob) Richards said the cruise lines that serviced Bermuda were not poor, so a fee hike was not going to "break the bank''.

UBP Sen. Lawrence Scott said the cruise ship policy was one that "we can all hang our hats on with some sense of pride''.

UBP Sen. Yvette Swan said some younger entertainers had not acquired the polish needed.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott said airline prices were a major deterrent to visitors.

Senate President Albert Jackson suggested young Bermudians find employment on cruise ships.

Continued tomorrow