trustees was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP), who introduced the bill, said vesting the lands around the National Stadium in the trustees would allow them to secure needed borrowing to develop the new centre.

Recent return of American, Canadian, and British Base lands would allow for improvement of regional sports facilities, but the sports centre at Prospect should be the central headquarters for sport, Sen. Scott said.

All the sports bodies could operate from there, conduct their annual general meetings, and use the centre to host their counterparts from around the world.

Sen. Neletha (Honey) Butterfield (PLP) complained that the Opposition was asked to support the bill without seeing development plans for the sports centre.

What Government was saying was that it could not handle the sports centre project and was turning it over to the trustees. "Years have passed and the public is getting very weary, especially those involved in the development of sports.'' She noted young people recently demonstrated outside the House of Assembly because the Devonshire Colts were being forced to relocate to make way for the sports centre.

Why could the energy that was put into a new prison not be put into a new sports centre? Would the trustees examine the possibility of using the Base lands instead of the site near Prospect? Community and Culture Minister Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said the Devonshire Colts were told years ago that when required, Government would help them find a new site.

She was "amused'' by the "organised demonstration'' at the House of Assembly, which was "obviously organised by someone who sits in another place''.

"The Opposition continuously uses vulnerable people like children to come out and demonstrate for them.'' She hoped the young people were told the correct facts.

Sen. Swan said the sports centre had to be located in the centre of the Island. Not only would the general public use the facility, but students at the new senior secondary school at Prospect would, too.

Opposition Senate Leader Sen. Milton Scott hoped that by approving the land transfer "we won't see Government moving away from its responsibility to provide sports facilities for the people of this Country''.

It was difficult to raise funds for a national sports centre, which would probably not operate at a profit.

Turning to Sen. Swan's comments, Sen. Scott said it was "a fundamental right'' for people to demonstrate.

The six- and seven-year-olds who demonstrated outside the Sessions House were rightfully concerned about losing their area soccer field. They did not want to have to go to St. George's to play, he said.

Government Senate Leader Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte said Government was not abdicating its responsibility. It was committed to "assuring the National Stadium is completed''.

The economic pie was not growing, largely due to factors outside Government's control, and "we have to understand that there are limits to what we can do with this small pie that we have''.

Government would like to see not just a sports centre, but a cultural centre, a science centre, and a "very good library,'' she said. "We have some serious financial constraints.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte also said she believed the sports centre could be run at a profit, by hosting international competitions, among other means.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) said he was concerned that the bill gave the trustees to borrow money from Government, among other lenders.

Sports centre From Page 5 While the trustees may borrow some of the money from sources other than Government, he did not see why the difference could not come from Government in the form of grants, rather than loans.

The community had waited many years for a National Stadium. Now, Government was taking what had been called a "white elephant'' and dropping it in the lap of trustees. From then on, "Government can't answer for it, because it's the trustees' responsibility,'' Sen.

Lister said.

The construction of the prison before the sports centre was completed left the perception that, "Government feels it's more important to have a facility to lock people up then it is to have a facility to train and develop young people.'' For starters, why not make the present stadium operable by putting in proper washrooms and showers. Then, much of the opposition would pass. "I want a pencil, but they want to get me a Cross pen and they've got to save up for it,'' Sen. Lister said.

The Devonshire Colts should be particularly well-treated by Government, because of its commitment to youth programmes which many other soccer clubs did not have, he said.

While the older players could move to St. George's, that move would bring the Colts' youth programmes "to a screeching halt''.

Sen. Lister agreed that every avenue should be explored to make the National Sports Centre pay for itself.

In wrapping up, Sen. Lawrence Scott said he was "grateful'' the debate had not moved in the same direction that the recent sports centre debate in the House of Assembly had.

Negotiations were going on to secure the Colts a field in the Devonshire area that the young people could use, he said.

It was "heartwrenching'' to see anyone displaced, but "we have a balancing act,'' he said. "Maybe the adults who were involved with the youngsters were a little tardy in finding themselves alternative accommodations,'' Sen. Scott said.

"D-Day has been coming to that club for some time. It's now here.'' The National Sports Centre Trustees Amendment Act 1995 was passed without objection.

Also passed by the Senate on Wednesday were six private bills: The Associated Electric Gas & Insurance Services Ltd. Consolidation and Amendment Act 1995; The International Lease Finance Corporation Act 1995; the Princeton Eagle Insurance Company Ltd. Act 1995; the Premier Life (Bermuda) Limited Act 1995; The Novel Leasing Company Act 1995; and The Novel Trustee (PVT) Company Ltd.

Act 1995.

The Senate has adjourned until February 14.