crisis.

He vowed not to muzzle a PLP voice on committees preparing Bermuda for military withdrawal.

"We are going to try to embrace the whole community on this,'' declared the Hon. Sir John Swan.

And that included people of Progressive Labour Party leanings, he said.

But Sir John stamped on Opposition calls for a bipartisan National Committee.

PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade wanted such a committee to hammer out an overall strategy.

He said it should be along the lines of a joint select committee.

Sir John, however, ruled this out.

"At the end of the day it is Government's responsibility to handle the issue.

I am not planning any bipartisan committees.'' The House of Assembly will be discussing the Base crisis shortly.

Sir John has already announced plans to set up five committees to look at how the land will be used and the Airport run.

On Friday, Sir John said Bermuda faced the "most significant challenge'' since the Second World War.

His statement followed his Washington talks with top military brass.

He met the US Navy's top officer Admiral Frank Kelso and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for the Atlantic Admiral Paul Miller.

They told him Bermuda no longer had a role to play for the US or NATO.

It meant the US Naval Air Station faced closure soon after September 1, 1995.

In March, the US Defence Department has to submit to Congress a plan to close the Base.

Mr. Wade said the PLP would discuss the Base problem today and at Wednesday's Caucus meeting.

He said the Opposition viewed the problem as of national importance and above politics.

And he believed Government and the PLP both wanted to achieve the same ends.

Mr. Wade wanted PLP representation on the five committees.

He also called for a National Committee.

"We would like to be part of the negotiations, and want full partnership,'' he said.

"My first reaction is that this is a matter of national importance. I should have something more to say after Wednesday.'' Mr. Wade said a National Committee would help thrash out a Base strategy.

It would be similar to the 1968 joint select committee on constitutional reform.

"At present we don't have any plan.'' Mr. Wade said the PLP had been shut out so far from negotiations over the Base.

It had not been told in advance about the Premier's overseas trips.

"To date we have not been made privy to anything. We have had our own initiatives and kept abreast of things through our own contacts.'' Sir John said he appreciated Mr. Wade's offer to serve on the committees.

He wanted people from all walks of life -- including the PLP -- involved.

People with PLP persuasions were free to come forward to make a contribution.

Sir John, however, said there were no plans for a bipartisan committee.

Government had been elected to fulfill its responsibilities -- and those included handling the Base issue.

Sir John also rejected any suggestion Government had been secretive in dealing with the crisis.

"The public has been kept informed about all my trips.''