That message was driven home yesterday when an Opposition motion noting "the inadequate conditions'' under which Senators work and calling for corrective measures was passed without objection.

Opposition Senate Leader Sen. Milton Scott , whose complaints included stained ceilings, dim lighting, poor washroom facilities, and lack of clerical support, said it was time to "restore the dignity that is given to us as appointed members in this chamber.

"I think it's important that all members of the legislature finally stand up,'' Sen. Scott said. "We must stop allowing ourselves to be taken for granted.'' Support for Sen. Scott's motion varied widely, even among United Bermuda Party Senators.

Government Leader in the Senate Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte said she was "quite surprised'' at the motion, when other pressing problems should take priority.

"We don't have the luxury in Bermuda to ask our taxpayers to pay increasing amounts in taxes to support comfort and physical plant and well-being of our legislators,'' she said.

But another Government Senator, Sen. Lawrence Scott , said that in broad terms he agreed with the motion "100 percent.'' "The public makes demands of its politicians today unlike they have ever done in the past,'' Sen. Lawrence Scott said. "If the public demands accountability, in order for us to be accountable, I would like to be facilitated so I can be accountable.'' Several Senators complained about the lack of a proper office for Senate President Sen. Albert Jackson (Ind), who thanked Sen. Milton Scott for his motion.

Sen. Jackson described the working conditions as "demoralising,'' and said that without an office "playing host to visiting dignitaries and the like can be very embarrassing.'' As a schoolboy, Sen. Scott remembered being taught to "honour and respect'' members of Bermuda's legislature.

But he later could not understand "how individuals who are elevated to these positions would allow themselves to have to work under such conditions.'' The ceiling of the Senate chamber in the Cabinet Building had water stains and cracking plaster, he said. The lighting was "appalling,'' especially at night. And there was sometimes a queue for a washroom used by Senators, Cabinet Ministers, the Press, and the general public.

It was understood that when the former Minister of Management and Technology moved out of an office near the Senate chamber, it would become an office for the Senate President, Sen. Scott said.

But, "I've been made to understand that that room is now the coffee room for the Cabinet room.'' Sen. Jackson held one of the Country's highest posts, yet he had no real office. "It's shocking.'' There should also be a secretarial pool that Senators could use and a shared area where they could meet with members of the public.

"Many people believe that being a member of this legislature is a one-day-a-week affair,'' Sen. Scott said. "But that's not the situation at all.

"We have to begin, Mr. President, to take care of ourselves.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte said it would be wrong to "dip into (taxpayers') pockets...to give us secretaries.'' Government set aside funds to maintain the Cabinet Building, and "I expect that within a very short time, funds will be earmarked specifically with respect to the Senate chamber itself,'' she said.

She was not aware of a formal request from the Senate President for an office.

"If you do make a formal request, it will go through the proper channels,'' she told Sen. Jackson.

"We respect your office and will do whatever it takes to make sure you have adequate working conditions with respect to your prestigious office.'' It was a question of priorities, and Government was now committing $100 million to the education system. "We can't in all cases earmark funds for other areas.'' Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) said he recognised both "some failings'' in the present set-up and Government's financial constraints.

But the dignity of the office of Senate President had to be recognised, he said, noting that it was fifth on the protocol list, ahead of the Speaker of the House, the Deputy Governor, and Cabinet Ministers.

Sen. Oughton believed Sen. Jackson received an indication that the nearby office would become his once it was vacated by Dr. Grant Gibbons , who moved out recently upon becoming Finance Minister.

But soon "it became a tea room.'' He did not see why Cabinet, which met only once a week, could not use the tea room the Senate used.

Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said Dr. Gibbons' office was still vacant, and only its reception area was used by Cabinet on Tuesdays for refreshments. Sen. Neletha (Honey) Butterfield (PLP) said it was important that the Senate President have an office.

She noted that a wheel recently came off one of the Senate chairs, and it was still not fixed. And the lighting was very poor.

Sen. Gary Pitman (UBP) said he agreed with Sen. Butterfield about the chair and would raise that and other matters with the Minister of Works & Engineering.

However, Senators had met in the same chambers since 1884, and "I feel we should continue to make do as much as we can with what we've got.'' Money should be used fighting drugs and crime, not "making it super comfortable for us,'' Sen. Pitman said.

But Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) said he was "delighted'' by the Opposition motion.

"There is hardly a profession in this Country who would work in the conditions in which we work,'' he said.

It was true Government faced constraints, but "that ought not to be a deterrent to the broad principle,'' he said.

Proper facilities for the Senate President were "vitally important.'' And as for Senators generally, if serving the public required some clerical staff and better working conditions, "so be it.'' If the public was going to make those demands, it should recognise "taxes have to be collected to do so.'' Sen. Lawrence Scott was also concerned about security, and noted there was a Police officer posted at the entrance to the Sessions House when the House of Assembly was in session, but not at the entrance to the Senate.

"We don't think of ourselves as being important enough to have security,'' he said.

Alluding to the recent Tim Smith controversy, he noted Senators could not even turn their microphones off and on.

Sen. Milton Scott was not saying everything should be done by next week, but "we need to move toward it,'' Sen. Lawrence Scott said.

Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind) said she would prefer the debate was not personalised and looked at only in terms of the Cabinet Building being used as a Senate chamber.

Long-term plans for improvement of the Houses of Parliament had been talked about for many years, she said. But only "cosmetic changes'' had been made.

To care about the buildings showed people "we care about what we do and we care about where we do it,'' Sen. Astwood said.

Was it appropriate for Senators to have to meet with the public in their homes, private offices, or on the street? A place that could be used for such meetings needed to be found "not for us, but for those whom we serve.'' Looking at the cracked and stained ceiling, Sen. Astwood said it was a historical building that needed to be preserved. Senators would be "remiss'' if they did not say something.

In 1884, Senators represented a "mercantile'' class motivated by self-interest, she said. "I don't think the majority of us who serve today come with the same motivation.'' Sen. Jackson, who wound up the debate, said he would have preferred to debate a substantive motion on the subject, rather than one that just took note of conditions.

Sen. Milton Scott noted that as an Opposition Senator, he was prohibited from making a motion that would have an impact on Government's Consolidated Fund.

Looking at pictures of the Senate Chambers from before the Second World War, and probably before the First World War, "it's difficult to say that even the chairs have been changed,'' Sen. Jackson said.

Private companies gave their employees excellent facilities because they improved productivity and morale, he said.

"It is my misfortune that I spent just about all of my working life in the service of Government,'' Sen. Jackson said. "It was some 40 years of work.

"I can not find a moment which tells me that anyone was concerned with increasing the output because of good feelings created by good...physical and material provisions.'' During his time as Senate President, "mild promises'' had been made two or three times.

"You will have an office,'' Sen. Jackson said, recalling one of the promises.

"But maybe that's coming tomorrow. It isn't here today.'' The Senate, which was the Upper Chamber, "has to be seen as the most important feature of the legislature of this Country,'' he said.

He was glad the motion brought attention to the need "for the status of the Senate to be increased and improved through some careful planning and provision.

"It is a matter of great importance.''