shot in the arm, an Opposition MP declared yesterday.

Mr. Julian Hall said a casino could dramatically spruce up the Island's image.

But it should be open to tourists only -- to ward off the danger of residents being transformed into gambling addicts.

The Shadow Environment Minister floated his controversial idea at the weekly meeting of Hamilton Lions Club.

And he expressed dismay local politicians appeared to shy away from the prospect.

"If Bermuda is regarded by the modern tourist as a bore we must make it more exciting,'' he said.

He went on: "I am calling for Bermuda to consider -- I repeat consider -- the possibility of introducing exclusive casino gambling.'' Mr. Hall, a prominent lawyer, stressed there should be restrictions against Bermudian residents participating.

He added he considered it regrettable neither the United Bermuda Party nor the Progressive Labour Party would brook any feasibility study into local gambling.

It was purely his own view he was putting forward, he emphasised.

After the meeting at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, Mr. Hall told The Royal Gazette he understood -- and shared -- fears about the dangerous appeal of gambling.

That was why all local residents, not just Bermudians, should be restricted, as was the case in the Bahamas.

"I believe gambling could have a big impact without restrictions, with people being turned into addicts.'' Earlier, in a wide-ranging speech Mr. Hall spoke on the accelerating pace of change in society -- and the need to keep up with it.

"We will go the way of the dinosaur if we insist on firmly rooting ourselves in the past.'' Mr. Hall highlighted the need for a two-party system as a bare minimum for a healthy democracy.

It was critical, therefore, to view the PLP as a party of potential power, not of perpetual opposition.

There was an encouraging decline in the tendency to see the United Bermuda Party as natural governors.

"I don't see this, however, as much in the older generations, some of whose views are embedded in the concrete of the past.

"But younger generations recognise the need to examine all the options.'' Mr. Hall said Bermuda faced some important decision-making over the next two years.

"We have some fundamental problems we must address,'' he exclaimed.

Switching focus to The Royal Gazette , Mr. Hall said he often found the editorials "distasteful and unpleasant, although some made sense.'' But he added: "I don't expect every view I expound and express to achieve unanimous support. I don't hold a monopoly on truth.'' Mr. Hall commended yesterday's editorial in The Royal Gazette to the meeting, saying it contained a lot he could agree with.

Independent Senator Joe Johnson's call for community leaders to show "more tact and less ego'' was eminently sensible.

It was not, however, the intention of the PLP to shirk from its responsibility to confront any issue it disagreed with.

"It must confront it without fear or favour. We can certainly not promise not to indulge in confrontation.'' Mr. Hall spoke of the so-called economic miracle of the 1980s when Bermuda enjoyed prosperity.

The Government was keen to take the credit for the "economic miracle.'' Now it should be prepared to accept blame and responsibility for the current economic woes brought on by mismanagement.

Mr. Hall later accepted the force of the argument that certain issues, such as education, could be handled best by the combined efforts of the top brains within the UBP and PLP.