hanging, it has been argued.

Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt said the challenge would be to find a form of punishment that would take its place -- and satisfy society.

"It will not be good enough to abolish it and not have something effective in its place,'' he said. "We will let down the people of this country if we do that and don't do the rest.

"There is a strong majority who would like to see it retained and a strong majority who would like to see it exercised on a number of occasions.'' He said there was a problem over whether to make people productive members of society, to perform some kind of work or be sent overseas to take part in a tougher prison environment.

The MP also asked whether the Government was prepared to amend Human Rights Legislation so people could not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation.

And there was also the question of the age of consent for homosexuality, which could not be ducked, he said.

With the offer of UK citizenship, he said there seemed to be conflict on whether all had to accept or if it would be available on an "opt in'' basis.

But he said those who accepted could always renounce it if they decided it was not for them.

If independence was chosen as the route, instead of the White Paper, then that could send a message to Europe that Bermuda was not prepared to face its fiscal responsibilities.

"We have to move forward and maintain this relationship. You cannot retreat from the challenge of the White Paper by saying Independence is the answer.'' Earlier, Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans also hit back over accusations on Government travel expenses.

She said Ministers were forced to take trips and would much rather that meetings were held in Bermuda.

"Who do you think wants to go to England in the middle of winter? Or France when it rains all the time,'' she said.

"We go there because that is where the OECD is, I would like them all to come here.

"People talk about trips. You get in a jetliner, take your life in your hands and don't know if you are going to get back...

"I don't like doing it. But I do it, the Premier does it.'' On the subject of UK citzenship, she said if the UK was so good, why were its people working all over the world? Tourism Minister David Allen said there were constitutional changes on the way which could eventually include independence, but he said it was important the country got its constitutional house in order first.

Dame Lois