exclusive cruise ship for St. George's to prevent other cruise lines from coming to the Island, it was claimed yesterday.

St. George's North MP Ms Jennifer Smith said she feared Chandris' decision on Monday to drop its plan for a fifth caller to the Island may have been made too late to allow other lines to fill the gap.

"It seems as though they took up the option to close out any other line that may have been interested. I would be interested to find out why they have withdrawn,'' said the Progressive Labour Party MP.

"I would trust and hope that the Minister will have listened to the people of St. George's and has been looking at cruise lines that have been looking at St. George's as a port. At least two have expressed an interest.'' Ms Smith said that during canvassing of homes and businesses in her constituency there had been a universal desire for a St. George's-only ship.

Ms Smith's comments came amidst heavy reaction to the Chandrias decision.

Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen blasted Government's decision in 1984 to grant Chandris a 10-year contract as the Island's main cruise caller while St. George's Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward said townspeople were "disappointed'' by the Chandris decision.

Mr. Allen said Government's "four-ship'' cruise policy introduced in the late 1980's led directly to Chandris' decision.

Chandris said in September it would exercise its contractual option to commit a ship to St. George's in the spring of 1994. Chandris ships already visit Hamilton and the West End.

But it is believed the company decided this week that new arrangements for other lines to bring larger ships to the Island would create more berths than visitors and a third ship would not be economically viable.

Mr. Allen said a one-stop ship will boost St. George's and the whole Island.

He said: "We have three ships that stop at both Hamilton and St. George's.

People tend to wait until they get to Hamilton because there is a greater variety of shops, even though St. George's has a lot to offer.

"A St. George's ship would also boost taxi drivers, tour guides and restaurants, as people on day tours would eat out rather than going back to their ships.'' Mr. Allen did not blame Chandris for the problems, saying it was a business decision.

But he claimed that Government policy had been wrong since it was introduced in 1984 by the then-Tourism Minister, the Hon. Irving Pearman.

Mr. Allen said: "The decision to go with a 10-year long-term contract that was very restrictive, tended to promote the rights of cruise lines but did not go very far in protecting Bermuda and the tourism industry.

"...I had reservations about the flexibility of the agreement in case of an economic downturn. When the recession came, we did not have the means to cushion the impact by upwardly adjusting the number of cruise ships.'' He also felt that it was a mistake to allow Chandris first refusal on a new ship.

But now Chandris has decided not to exercise their option, after all, the possibility of the Government finding a new cruise ship by the spring of 1994 looks remote, he said.

An alternative would have to be a re-routed boat, a chartered vessel from elsewhere or a newly-built ship.

"The timing was already difficult in summer but now there is only just over a year until the spring of 1994. Despite the time restriction I think the Government should persevere and hopefully they will find a ship.'' Mayor of St. George's the Wor. Henry Hayward said: "The only thing from a St.

George's point of view that I can say is that we are disappointed with the decision by Chandris to withdraw their option.

"All the other lines are looking into the situation now. Right now I have heard nothing and I would be surprised if the Director of Tourism hears anything before early January.'' In his role as agent for Chandris, Mr. Hayward could not comment on the line's decision to withdraw.