The following report is the conclusion to Friday night's debate in the House of Assembly Comparing the progress made in his ministry against the list of promises outlined in the PLP platform, Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson noted that the Ministry now monitors what is dumped into Castle Harbour, will soon begin a discussion on the Green Paper on the Marine Environment, has corrected the concentration of cement in ash blocks used for land reclamation at the airport so that they no longer decompose, and sold power produced at the Tynes Bay incinerator, back to BELCO.

Mr. Hodgson also noted that the ministry is looking at cruise ship dumping into coastal waters and are considering perhaps only allowing ships which will retain their liquid waste, to come to dock.

He held that a tree-planting scheme to reforest the Island will address the problem of drainage.

Giving an update on the state of the cleanup of the former baselands, Mr.

Hodgson confessed that talks between the Government and the US were "difficult''.

"They have not been responding as we had hoped,'' he said.

"But now we have turned the matter over to Britain as they had made the lease arrangement.'' Mr. Hodgson said that talks between the US and the British have begun and he appeared optimistic that some progress will be made.

"With the Minister of Defence negotiating the US have promised to have a fresh look at a new assessment presented by the British.'' UBP MP Erwin Adderley took issue with Mr. Hodgson's claim that tree planting will help the drainage problem.

"Anyone with eyes can see that the drainage problem in Bermuda is as a result of roads and parking lots,'' he said.

"It is not in open land. We don't have a problem of run off water eroding away huge portions of hillsides.

"The run off water problem that affects our inshore waters comes off asphalt roads and parking lots and concrete areas. Planting trees will not help it.'' Mr. Adderley attacked plans by the Government to implement fast ferries claiming that adjustments in Bermuda's infrastructure need to come first.

"One of the things we understood from the Transportation 2000 plan was that infrastructure improvements like the provision of parking and co-ordinating with ferries needed to take place before the implementation of fast ferries,'' he said.

"But I see Government spending $6 million on ferries and no infrastructure improvements.'' Mr. Addreley also expressed reservations about an increase in public transport tariffs.

"I have serious doubts if they understand the implications of what they are doing,'' he said.

"Tourists already feel transportation is expensive. One of their main complaints is that it is too expensive when it is available.'' Questioning the example Government is setting by allowing Ministers' official cars to exceed the current restrictions, Mr. Adderley drew attention to the recent case of a man who had his 12 year old car fail inspection this year because it is too big.

"It is the epitome of arrogance that this man should be told this. Is there one set of rules for the public and another for Government?'' he asked.

Mr. Adderley also questioned why a review of arable land was needed.

"Such a document already exists and it was carried out by people I consider to be the most pre-eminent in this field -- Dr. David Wingate, Vicki Gomez, Dr. Sterrer from the aquarium and environmentalist Stuart Hayward,'' he said.

"The topic has been well researched and studied and no more arable land has suddenly appeared.'' Premier Jennifer Smith confined her discussions to education, highlighting the fact that the Opposition "has only dedicated two paragraphs in the budget reply to education''.

Dismissing allegations that downsizing classes had not been implemented, Ms Smith noted that at the pre-school level classes are limited to 17 children.

She also pointed out that the addition of para-professionals in the primary schools and fully qualified teachers in pre-schools has been instituted.

Premier promises more accountability " Yes, it still costs more to educate a child in the public system than in the private system,'' Ms Smith said, adding that parents could now be happier with the quality of instruction.

In a pledge to parents she promised increased teacher accountability and certification.

Ms Smith noted that the fast pace of technology requires that teachers will have to remain students themselves through out their career and she noted the Ministry will be changing to encourage this new necessity.

Defending Government's decision to prioritise construction of Berkley Institute, the Premier said she felt "it is tantamount to child abuse'' for students to be there while others were being taught in much better facilities at CedarBridge Academy.

"We think students and future students should have two first class facilities providing them with equal exposure to curriculum and opportunities,'' she said.

UBP MP Gary Pitman complained of the monopoly business Government has created by legalising gaming machines already in the Island and urged the Finance Minister to tax them.

"They should be taxed and taxed heavily and that money could be put aside for a social assistance account that would be used when these machines wreck the lives of the people that use them,'' he held.

Echoing concerns from his fellow UBP MP's on the Government's policy on expatriate workers, Mr. Pitman held that "foreigners enrich our culture'' and he contended that the real threat to our culture is television and the movies.

"Our culture is under threat from television, videos and movies,'' he said.

"That is where we see a lot of violence, foul language and sex.'' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA