Affairs were praised by members of the House of Assembly yesterday.

But Minister, the Hon. Leonard Gibbons (UBP), came under fire for Government policy on libraries, human rights and small businesses.

Mr. Gibbons began the marathon Budget debate by announcing a two percent budget cut in his ministry, which has just 42 regular staff and a 0.9 percent share of Government spending.

He called it "a ministry of the people by the people'', and defended its work as `vibrant, active and time-consuming''.

Major achievements in the libraries in the past year included the travelling "bookmobile'', a four percent increase in visits to the main library and a 20 percent increase in reference enquries.

A $25 library fee for visitors to the Island had caused irritation, he said, and Government intended to make this a deposit instead.

About $6,000 had been raised in fines on non-returned books.

Mr. Gibbons highlighted new donations to Government archives and improvements in storage.

"I have had some ribbing and maybe some criticism for having my picture taken receiving documents at the archive and books at the library,'' he said. But, he added, "We must besure that all Bermudians know there is a safe deposit for their documents.'' He praised the work of Community Services and congratulated Cultural Affairs for "value for money''.

He also paid tribute to the Small Business Development Corporation for getting firms financial aid and management advice.

Shadow Community Affairs Minister Mr. Reginald Burrows and Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox had not taken up an invitation to visit the corporation, he said.

Mr. Burrows praised new-look libraries, saying they were no longer dull. But he was sorry about cuts in supplies and materials. "One only hopes that the libraries will still be able to attract those persons that they were attracting in the past.'' Turning to human rights, he called for Government to make sure at least one or two new Public Transport buses would be accessible for wheelchair users.

Mr. Gilbert Darrell (NLP) brought up the Ministry's $36,000 subsidy for the broadcasting of the BBC World Service from London. He said some programmes were excellent and informative, but others were garbage.

The Hon. Harry Soares (UBP) attacked PLP proposals for the Small Business Development Corporation to borrow cash from banks and lend it to small businesses at a lower interest rate.

The idea was perhaps an "emotional vote-getter'' as opposed to a clearly thought-out, soundly economic proposal and there was no need for it.

Mr. Stuart Hayward (Ind) said Government was building a prison for waste people and an incinerator for waste garbage.

"We could do a lot more to avoid both areas of waste if we had more libraries,'' he said.

He called for a purpose-built library as recently opened in the Channel Island of Jersey, an island comparable to Bermuda.

And he criticised library cuts. "If the libraries are the people's university, then our Government's attitude is one of starving the education of our community,'' he said.

Circulation at the youth library was down, he said, which could mean children were turning to TV for information.

Mr. Hayward said Government was unwilling to publish remarks and reports made by the chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Canon James Francis.

He called for Cabinet members to show their concern for human rights by ending the delay in publication.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith said culture needed more funding.

The bookmobile should have been an addition to the libraries in Somerset and St. George's, not a replacement for them when they were closed.

"A library is the backbone of any society or culture and when you close such a facility you are sending out the wrong signals.'' She suggested university students on vacation and other part-timers could help sort out archive material held in Government storage.

Mrs. Grace Bell (UBP) praised the keeping of Church of England records in Government archives and suggested other churches, like the AME, could do likewise.

Mr. Dennis Lister (PLP) said some small business people were facing Magistrates' Court appearances because they could not afford to pay taxes.

Government tax relief outlined in the Budget was not enough and would not increase employment.

Mr. Cox accused Mr. Gibbons of dragging out his speech, which was "grossly unfair''.

He said Government should rethink library closures. And he pointed out Government does not own a library building.

Mr. Ottiwell Simmons (PLP) attacked Government's human rights record.

Bermuda's 34,000 workers make up the Island's biggest interest group, he said.

But every time Labour Day organisers applied to get the Bermuda Regiment band to lead their march, they were turned down.

This was discrimination and simply unfair to the working class.

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs 1993/4 estimates Ministry objective: "To cultivate understanding, pride and self-esteem among individuals as well as respect for others in our community. The Ministry works to preserve, promote and cultivate Bermuda's cultural heritage and to assure that there are opportunities for all in the community to enhance their lives by developing a greater appreciation for life in Bermuda.'' Budget estimate $3,273,000 (last year $3,327,000) Budget allocations: Libraries $994,000 Archives $326,000 Community Services $913,000 Small Business Development Corp $200,000 Cultural Affairs $840,000.