its pre-election promises of putting more money into education.

And he gave Government Senators a road map to show them where they could find the extra money to fund certain programmes, although he relied on an apparent rumour to do so.

Opposition Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess said the Progressive Labour Party had sent the wrong message to teachers and students by not allocating more funds to training award and scholarship programmes in its first Budget.

"The PLP said they would put more money into education because that is where the future is,'' he noted. "Look at the numbers. Another promise made at night that has disappeared in the light of day.'' Sen. Burgess said teachers needed to know they were appreciated and that they would be able to keep abreast of changes in education if they were to perform at the highest standard.

But the wrong message had been sent to them in the Budget because the funding for teacher training awards had been kept at the same figure as the previous year -- $120,000.

"Not one single dollar has gone into additional awards for teachers,'' stressed Sen. Burgess.

"Teachers who have been trying to get excited about the new education system have been let down by the Government.'' However Government Senator Patrice Parris later dismissed the claim stressing that some $276,000 had been allocated toward the professional training and development of the Island's teachers.

Sen Burgess added that the funds allocated for Bermuda scholarships and further education awards also remained the same as the previous year -- $300,000 and $835,000 respectively.

"The poor students who were scrambling before November 11 will scramble just as much under this Budget,'' warned Sen. Burgess.

"Students at the college level have been clearly let down.'' Sen. Parris again moved to contradict the Opposition's claim and pointed out that students were provided with assistance but they were looked at case by case.

Sen. Burgess asked the Government Senators if it was true that Stonington Beach Hotel was losing close to $250,000 a year.

He said that if this was the case, a management company should be hired to run the operation and that would surely stop the alleged $250,000 from going out the door.

This extra money could then go into funding scholarship and education awards for students looking to do hotel studies. This would, in turn, further encourage young Bermudians to get into the hotel industry, he said.