commercial vessels after protests from boat owners and the Tourism Ministry.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons , moving the Customs Tariff Amendment No. 2 Act 1997 on Monday night, said the duty of fittings for commercial tour, diving and charter fishing boats had been standardised at 33.5 percent in this year's Budget -- up from 22.5 percent.

But he said following representations from the Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Tourism, he had agreed to restore the lower duty rate.

Dr. Gibbons added: "Since we are trying to improve the product which is offered and considering the number of operators who have older vessels, increasing their operating costs might be counter-productive.

"The operators have made a good case and the Minister of Tourism has made a good case that perhaps it's better to leave things the way they are.''