claimed would have strong repercussions when the bills hit householders.

UBP members claimed the new increases will hit residents hard who have saved for their own homes and will further add to the burden faced by the Island's seniors.

But the Government countered that rate decreases and relief level increases for some sectors are being appreciated by the community.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox said: "We have made every effort to try and accommodate those people who have found themselves in difficulty because of the charges.

"I am well satisfied that people feel pleased with what these charges are doing.'' Under the Land Tax Amendment Act 2000, the commercial sector will pay 5.5 percent, down from six percent, and seniors will have the relief level raised from $40,000 to $60,000.

But Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said the whole affair was a charade because the Government did not have to increase the bills.

And he said the context of doing people a favour in the amendment still meant at the end of the day that residents were paying more than they were under the UBP.

But Delaey Robinson PLP countered that relatively speaking the increases "were very, very minor''.

He added that Bermuda, compared to the US, Canada and Europe was a lightly taxed jurisdiction.

And Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said she knew the changes were a bitter pill to swallow but said any Government "when considering how to raise taxes has to allocate priorities''.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said many people did not understand the process.

And in the hospitality industry people were concerned that a new increase may come along when there is a shortfall or a need to raise money, he said.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley argued that many residents, given the choice, would opt not to pay the increased tax rates in exchange for ditching the planned $6 million new fast ferries.