New rights for Bermuda's long term residents could be put before the House of Assembly in the next few months, Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox revealed yesterday.

She said Government had concrete proposals ready after last summer's consultation period which had led to fiery public debates.

Ms Cox said: "A discussion paper on the subject has been widely disseminated and discussed with the result that a White Paper will be placed before the Legislature before the end of the current session. New life has been breathed into the dream for a conclusion to this long and difficult debate.'' The Minister also announced that the Board of Inquiry into prisons which started in February has adjourned until March 19.

In yesterday's Budget debate, Shadow Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley attacked Ms Cox for inaction on prisons.

He said the prison service was running up huge overtime bills as prison officers did double shifts to cope with staff shortfalls.

The additional 12 new staff joining the service was a welcome move said Mr.

Dunkley but he said there was a lack of cash to run rehabilitation programmes at Westgate.

He said Government should appoint a Commissioner from overseas as well as a Deputy and Assistant Commissioner to rid the prison of drugs and help identify and train Bermudians to replace them after three years.

He said: "We must get rid of the drugs -- heroin and cocaine, that enter all too frequently.

"Currently programmes fail because the prison is dirty, and to add to the problem, we can't search and test for drugs.'' Mr. Dunkley said an emergency response team was needed to cope with outbreaks of violence and that selected inmates should be forced to work outside.

"They could do work at seniors homes, pick up trash, and even get involved in the Habitat for Humanity project.'' Ms Cox said the Government was sensitive to the fears of prison officers on overcrowding.

And she said some action had been taken on a 1999 report by UK prisons inspector CP Gibbard.

Progress includes an upgraded ioscan unit which four officers had been trained to use, improved lighting at the prison farm and random prison inspections by the Deputy Prisons Commissioner, said Ms. Cox.

She added: "Within the very near future, the Cabinet will consider a proposal that allows for mandatory drug testing of the prisons.'' Mr. Dunkley said fear of crime was a big concern in the community and that the Police needed to give better service to crime victims.

He said: "I see very little in this budget that gives hope we will stop the scourge of drugs before they get in the system.'' "Bermuda is a very small Island in the middle of the ocean. Shouldn't it make our job that much easier to at least make a sizable dent into the amount of drugs and contraband imported, in addition to saving some of our fellow Bermudians from this addictive spiral of death?'' Mr. Dunkley also attacked a 26 percent increase in defence spending.

"It's totally unacceptable.

"The biggest area of concern is the $495,000 allocated to guarding the people's Premier.'' He said: "It also makes me wonder if Colonel Burch is forming his own little militia at Cabinet office.'' Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety 2001/02 estimates Ministry responsibility: To advise on the formula and implementation of policy. To generally direct and coordinate the operations and activities within the Ministry including Labour and Public Safety.

Budget estimate: $74,284,000 (last year $68,844,000) Revenue: $16,248,000 Defence $000 Police $356,000 Immigration $13,460,000 Registry General $1,199,000 Fire services $1,233,000 Budget allocations Defence $4,959,000 Police $39,472,000 Prisons and senior training school $15,503,000 Immigration $3,366,000 Registry General $1,295,000 Ministry HQ $2,608,000 Fire services $6,397,000 Security Services $177,000 Labour $507,000 Capital expenditure Acquisitions $2,756,000 Development $5,290,000