crucial for the takeover of military base lands, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The air operations and infrastructure committees are the first of five committees to become fully manned since the US Navy told Government it planned to shut down its Bermuda base in September, 1995.

The Hon. Sir John Swan said the mission of the air operations committee was "to make sure we have a seamless transfer of responsibilities from the US Navy to the Bermuda Government''.

The infrastructure committee, he said, will report on buildings, land and equipment and their condition at all military bases, including Daniel's Head, site of the Canadian Forces base, and HMS Malabar, which the British plan to close in April, 1995.

Senator the Hon. Grant Gibbons, the Minister for Management and Technology, will chair the air operations committee. His deputy is Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess.

Dr. Gibbons said his nine-man committee will look into the options available for the takeover of air operations, search and rescue, runway and taxiway maintenance, navigational aids and fire and crash services for aircraft.

Options include the US Navy helping train Bermudians for the takeover of air control functions, contracting a company to handle all operations or using a company to handle air operations while Bermudians are trained for the takeover.

"We need to look at these different options with respect to costs, timing and bringing on qualified Bermudians,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

"Above all, we must maintain the credibility and high standards for the operation of the airport.'' Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman will chair the infrastructure committee. His deputy will be Works Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons.

The Minister said his nine-man committee will determine what buildings, plants and equipment exist at base lands.

One of the committee's chief concerns will be to see if the lands are environmentally clean.

The committee will also review existing equipment with a view to keeping it here for local use. Whatever it wants will be subject to negotiation with the Americans.

Mr. Pearman said members of his committee have already been working and that the bulk of its work needs to be completed by summer.

Sir John said appointments were tailored so each member's particular skills and experience would help accomplish the committees' tasks while reflecting a cross-section of Bermuda.

The air operations' members include Mrs. Noela Haycock, whose work on the Corporation of St. George's has involved the St. George's Fire Service; senior Belco vice-president Mr. Vincent Ingham, accountant Mr. Charles Kempe, who is an Air Advisory committee member; Mr. John (Buddy) Lewis, former chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee; Mrs. Melba Lightbourne, a senior manager at Radio Cabs, American International lawyer Mr. Mike Murphy, who played an important role in the mid-1980s negotiation of the US-Bermuda tax treaty; Bermuda Regiment Lt. Col. Allan Rance, who is also a senior manager of Watlington Water Works; Miss Rosaline Rawlins of the Southampton Princess Hotel and local Delta Airlines manager Miss Jackie Zuill.

The infrastructure committee members are Argus Insurance executive Mrs. Lauren Bell, Mr. Eugene Blakeney, general secretary of Bermuda Public Services Association; architects Mr. Walter Brangman and Mr. Arthus Daniels, Mr. E.

Michael Jones, common councillor of the Corporation of St. George's; engineer Mr. Miles Outerbridge, Ms The Hon. Grant Gibbons.