without debate.

The legislation causing most consternation from Opposition Senators, was the Government Loans amendment, which increases the maximum amount of the debt ceiling from $185 million to $250 million.

Echoing Finance Minister Eugene Cox, Senator Patrice Parris said raising the ceiling was "prudent'' policy and was being done to fund several important projects.

These include the new Berkeley Institute, completion of the National Stadium, and houses for the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Senate Opposition Leader Maxwell Burgess said he wanted to "sound a warning'' that it was important whether Government could repay the debt, not whether it surpassed the legal ceiling, which is based on ten percent of the gross domestic product.

Government Senator David Burch responded that the continued prosperity of the country depended upon the continued educational development of its young people.

He said the public school system has the state of the art CedarBridge Academy but "Berkeley got nothing'' and was treated like a "stepchild''.

Sen. Parris concluded: "We're preparing for the future. We want to assure all that we're going forth and government addresses financial matters responsibly.'' Under the Miscellaneous Taxes (Rates) Amendment cruise ship passengers will now be taxed upon arrival $12 between May and September and $8 in September and October.

New rates for international businesses and banks and various hospital insurance regulations and hospital fees will now become law on April 1.

The Exempted Partnerships and Overseas Partnerships Amendments were passed allowing an increase in the penalty for late registration and service fees for international businesses.

The Banks and Deposit Companies Amendment was passed giving the Bermuda Monetary Authority the power to collect a supervisory fee for monitoring the banking in the island.

Various hospital insurance regulations including the Hospital Insurance (Health Insurance Plan) and Hospital Insurance (Standard Premium) were passed.

In addition, the Hospitals Insurance (Deductions), Hospital Insurance (Standard Hospital Benefit), and Bermuda Hospital's Board (Hospital Fees) were all passed.

The effect of these changes are to modernise the fee structure of the Hospital, differentiating between general ward stays and the more expensive intensive care stays.

In addition provision for home care and out-patient services for mammograms, dialysis and asthma sufferers have also been included in the fee structure.

Also approved was the sale of a small plot of land between the Modern Mart and Trimingham's branch store on South Road, Paget.

It was originally bought to build a new Paget Post Office but new plans call for it to be built a short distance to the west on Bermuda College property.

In January, Government announced that due to unsatisfactory conditions at public rest homes, the money earmarked for the imminent construction of the post office was transferred to renovating and expanding rest homes.

The Custom Tariffs Amendment Act was also passed during a recent Senate sitting. Sen. Parris said it would amalgamate rates charged on imported clothing.

Currently man-made fibres attract a 22 percent tariff while natural fibres have a duty of just 2.5 percent but the new bill will charge a standard 10 percent on all clothing. Sen. Parris said the local clothing industry was facing a stiff challenge from overseas.

Senator Kim Swan said: "It's an unfortunate problem that many retailers have moved into more natural fibres. This will dictate how they order.'' And Senator Walwyn Hughes questioned how the move would fit into the concept of a sustainable environment.

He said: "Natural fibres are usually sustainable.'' But he said non-natural clothing was often made out of oil based materials and oil was going to run out.

And he said of the merged rate: "It's all swings and roundabouts.'' She said: "This will provide some financial relief to them.'' There was also financial relief for florists while taxes on cigarettes went up to counteract a fall in prices due to increased competition.

Duty will be raised to 10 cents per cigarette. She said: "The Government is concerned lower prices will encourage more consumption and a decline in health.'' Senator Maxwell Burgess launched an attack on an increase in stamp duty.

He said: "Finding housing is difficult enough without paying more on stamp duty -- this will drive up the cost of buying a home.'' And he said it was a myth that the higher conveyance costs would be split between buyer and seller.

He said: "The purchaser always pays.'' He said someone buying a $400,000 home will now have to pay $24,000 on conveyancing. The Senate also passed a bill which to lower land tax for seniors and reduce charges on commercial property.

Sen. Parris said: "This bill seeks to make distribution more equitable.'' Sen. Burgess described the amendment act as "The Maxwell Burgess Amendment'' bill because it dealt with things he had been calling for.