action against the Government drew fierce criticism from former Premier Pamela Gordon yesterday.

Ms Gordon, the Shadow Telecommunications Minister, told a House of Assembly debate that the Progressive Labour Party were simply "housekeeping'' instead of placing Bermuda at the forefront of world technology.

Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb introduced amendments to the Telecommunications Act for their second reading.

She said existing laws had deficiencies, but tightening loopholes would lead to lower costs and better efficiency in the industry.

And Ms Webb said open competition in telecommunications would mean more up-to-date equipment as well as several pluses for the Bermuda economy.

The Minister said the new laws would establish a regulatory framework for a more streamlined and modern infrastructure in the industry.

She added: "Telecommunications is such an important industry in Bermuda because it connects us with the outside world. It's not an easy road ahead and hard decisions will be made.

"And there will be decisions no doubt that will land us in court again.'' The Minister may have been referring to a massive lawsuit against the former Government by Cable and Wireless, who wanted to reduce their rates.

The telecom giants were told they could not, because newcomer TeleBermuda International were being "protected'' in the marketplace.

But Ms Gordon said the new laws were simply "housekeeping'' measures surrounding licensing requirements.

And she said: "There's no amendment in here addressing keeping down cost. We should at least have taken this opportunity to show the direction we intend to move in.

"As a Government, we created a policy statement for e-commerce. During the election time, the members opposite thought e-commerce was a joke.'' Ms Webb, making a point of order, stressed she never damned e-commerce as a joke and claimed the media misrepresented key remarks.

But Ms Gordon added: "Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Bermuda wants to be on top of this. Bermuda needs to be put at the forefront.'' Veteran United Bermuda Party MP C.V. (Jim) Woolridge expressed fears about the new open market, packed with carriers.

He said the Government needed to provide assurances on quality of service and cost -- adding that Bermuda already had one of the best phone systems in the world.

But former Telecommunications Shadow Minister Walter Lister said the "ability to interconnect'' was included in the amended bill, which should prevent a recurrence of the wrangle between BTC and Quantum.

And former Telecommunications Minister John Barritt praised the new Government's amendments, stressing he did not believe it was a "knee-jerk reaction'' to recent court cases.

But he criticised a legal protection clause for Telecommunications Board members, saying the privilege was not extended to other Government boards.

Wayne Perinchief , PLP MP for Pembroke West Central, even praised the former UBP administration for some "brilliant ideas'' in telecommunication.

But he added: "They always stayed in the embryonic stage.'' Opposition MP Grant Gibbons dismissed proposed amendments as nothing more than "housebreaking'' measures.

He also pointed out many of the Caribbean islands, and Barbados in particular were watching to see how Bermuda handled opening the industry to competition.

And although he said he had accepted the transition would take time, Mr.

Gibbons added he had not expected such a "meandering process''.

Pembroke East MP Stanley Morton defended Ms Webb against the Opposition, which had been accusing the Minister of failing to consider the plight of employees in the fast-changing field and neglecting to mention the details of the proposed amendments.

But in her "maiden speech'' in the House of Assembly, Opposition MP Patricia Gordon Pamplin countered that Ms Webb had promised an "overview'', but delivered only "paltry housekeeping issues''.

However, another Government MP rose to defend Ms Webb's address.

"We're talking about a Ministry that many of us have not kept pace with over the years,'' said Elvin James . "It's a very, very fast paced industry.'' "We're not going to put through any Act that is going to put people out of jobs,'' he added.

Instead, the eventual increased competition would lead to more business opportunities and fairer prices for consumers, argued Mr. James.

But Opposition MP Allan Marshall again dismissed the bill as a housekeeping matter which lacked vision.

"This Act is not speaking to where the country needs to go forward,'' said Mr. Marshall.

"We need to move faster to go forward and lay our stamp where Bermuda wants to go vis a vis telecommunications,'' he added.

Mr. Marshall also suggested Government consider adjusting the 60/40 law for local businesses.

He said had such changes been in place before, the failed communications company Quantum may have had the funds available to weather its lengthy court battle.

"It boils down to access to capital and how they can invest,'' he argued.

In response to Opposition concerns, Ms Webb acknowledged some of the amendments were "not the most crucial decisions we will have to make''.

But she maintained the items were important, incremental steps to develop Bermuda's industry.

"Change is adamant, change is constant in this industry,'' said Ms Webb.

"And if we want to have a regulatory framework in place, then we have to roll with the punches and make changes accordingly.

"This is the first of a number of amendments.'' By evening, Mr. Barritt was successful in four of six minor changes he put forward to the Telecommunications Amendment Act.

Ms Webb agreed that wording suggested by Mr. Barritt in some instances, made the Act clearer.

For example, the word "interconnection'' will be used instead of "physical connections''; "upon request'' will be substituted with "upon reasonable request''; and "a formal warning notice'' will be made clearer by the wording "written notice''.

However, a suggestion to make plain in the Act just who can submit a dispute to the Telecommunications Commission was not accepted by the Minister.

Mr. Barritt suggested that the words "any party to the dispute'' be changed to read "either party to the dispute''.

The suggestion was tossed aside by Ms Webb who explained that in the future a third carrier could possibly become involved.

Mr. Barritt's further motion to delete the words "any party to the dispute'' with "either party to the dispute'' was also turned down for the same reason.

Telecommunication Minister Rene Webb Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon