never as long as Premier Jennifer Smith's this year, it was claimed in the Senate yesterday.

Senator Walwyn Hughes (Ind) said it was no fault of Government, but the Throne Speech had always been too long and attempts should be made to reduce it.

And he said besides the repetition, it was unfair to expect the Bermuda Regiment to stand to attention throughout the reading of the document, which this year ran to 28 pages and took 45 minutes to read.

As a result, a number of soldiers either fainted or felt ill.

He said: "It was too long. These speeches tend to go over again what has been achieved and a lot of administration issues.

"They should set out what it is to come.

"There is repetition and I am sure there are ways of trimming out this verbally.'' And he added: "It would take the SAS to stand that long.'' But he also said that the Premier had included in this year's speech exact paragraphs from last year's speech regarding issues that had not yet been dealt with.

He said: "Things were taken word for word out of last year's because they weren't done and just put back in without anyone explaining why they weren't done last year.'' And he also criticised the Premier for describing in her speech the Civil Service Review as being "transparent''.

He said the word transparent appeared to be rolling off too many tongues too easily, but is not being used correctly. And Mr. Hughes said as far as he was concerned, Government had not been transparent over the review.

"The public still has not seen it. Many civil servants have not got a clue over what lies in sight with this review. It can't be transparent.'' Progressive Labour Party Senator Milton Scott said the Permanent Secretaries and heads of departments had been informed over the contents of the review.

But Mr. Hughes said his interpretation of transparent was that it was open to all members of staff.