Government revealed its futuristic vision of proposed new Supreme Court facilities yesterday.

And Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott also emphasised Government's commitment to buying property instead of renting it, a move which he said would eventually add $3 million to the pubic kitty.

But Shadow Development Minister Alan Marshall criticised the idea, saying such Government expansion was just another example of its "lack of vision'' for the future.

The exchange came during the Works and Engineering segment of the budget debate in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Scott said he hoped the new courts would be designed along the lines of a court he saw while on a trip to Canada, in which jury members have monitors placed in front of them from which they can read transcripts of the entire proceedings.

Emphasising Government's determination to "think outside the box'' when it comes to developing new ideas, Mr. Scott said his interest in this proposal was sparked off during a trip to Toronto when he saw an "electronic court room'' being used there.

Noting that he felt the current Supreme Court facilities were "poor'', the Minister said: "It's a suggestion that we look at this type of thing so we can better accommodate more high profile cases.'' "Bermuda has the opportunity to carry some of that business here and that would mean a greater return for investment in this facility,'' he said.

"It would add to tourism and hence add to the public purse.'' In his speech, Mr. Scott also said he was hoping to move toward Government buying property instead of renting it.

"We have a very large portfolio. The money that goes towards rental of buildings by Government around the Island comes to $3 million a year.

"That's why we've taken a decision to start to develop, buy and build. In this way we'll be able to serve our own needs while saving money at the same time.

But Mr. Marshall said he was against any such Government expansion which he said would just act to put a greater strain the tax-paying public.

"They need to look at providing more services for less than making Government bigger than it is now.'' he said.

Mr. Marshall listed two examples of what he called a Governmental "lack of vision'' as the Works and Engineering water and road asphalting services which he said could be privatised.

Earlier on, Mr. Scott touched on the requests of Flatts residents to have a bridge built across the inlet to divert traffic from the village.

"Never will that happen in my tenure,'' he said, "but I do think Flatts would be the place to have traffic cameras set up to catch anyone who may be going through too fast.'' Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Jim Woolridge questioned whether it was really necessary to be spending around $24 million on fast ferries instead of using it for the maintenance and upgrades to the Causeway.

He also suggested that the Severn bridge be rebuilt between St. George's and St. David's Island so that St. George's would not be cut-off if anything were to happen to the existing Swing Bridge.

Alex Scott