to the family of former Policeman Mr. Anthony Pierre who was shot dead by a robber in Philadelphia last week.

Progressive Labour Party MP Mr. Trevor Woolridge began by asking the House to send condolences to Mr. Pierre's widow, Dr. Donna Durham Pierre.

Rev. Woolridge said the 37-year-old's tragic death was "shocking'' and he would be missed by his family and the community.

Delegated and Legislative Affairs Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto asked to be associated with Rev. Woolridge's remarks.

"He was so brutally slain,'' she said. "And one can only hope that the perpetrator of this hideous crime will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.'' Hamilton West MP Mr. Wayne Furbert said Mr. Pierre's death was a tragic loss for his family and the people of Hamilton West.

His sentiments were echoed by St. George's North MP Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams (PLP).

"I knew Anthony and the service he gave to the town (of St. George's),'' Mr.

Williams said, referring to the fact that the former Police sergeant, from Dominica, served on the local force for more than 10 years before going to the US.

"It makes me very emotional to think this person who gave so much to the community was removed so senselessly.'' Hamilton East MP Ms Renee Webb also asked to be associated with remarks about Mr. Pierre.

And she asked that condolences be sent to his widow who is her cousin.

Hamilton West MP the Hon. Maxwell Burgess , who is also a cousin of Mr.

Pierre's widow, said: "I do believe we owe a great debt of gratitude to this man who served here.'' PLP MP Mr. Nelson Bascome asked that the House also send condolences to the family of the late Mrs. Lillian Marlene Smith -- a long-time employee of Bermuda Electric Light Company and a member of Heard Chapel.

He also asked that condolences be sent to the family of the late Mr.

Theophilus David (Papa T) Wilson.

"Brother T was a man of the community,'' Mr. Bascome said. "He played football in earlier years and was well respected.'' PLP MP Mr. Ottiwell Simmons echoed Mr. Bascome's sentiments and said that he knew Mr. Wilson and all of his brothers personally.

"T Wilson is a son directly from Africa,'' Mr. Simmons said. "His father came from Sierra Leone, making his one of the few families that can trace their heritage back home.'' Mr. Simmons also noted that the Wilsons contributed much to local football and gombeys.

Government MP the Hon. Quinton Edness and PLP MP Mr. Stanley Morton asked to be associated with remarks about Mr. Wilson.

Opposition MP Mr. Reginald Burrows asked the House to send condolences to the family of the late Mr. David William (Buster) Hughes.

"An era has ended,'' he said, "Mr. Hughes was one of the oldest and most successful fishermen in Bermuda.

"I'm sure the whole community will miss him and the fresh fish he provided.'' UBP MP in St. George's South Mr. Richard Spurling asked that condolences be sent to the family of the late Mrs. Marie Hayward of St. David's who was 101.

"Mrs. Hayward was born in St. David's, brought up in St. David's, and lived there all her life,'' Mr. Spurling said, adding that she was an organist at the Chapel of Ease for more than 50 years.

"She represented that very strong Bermuda character of honesty and respect for others,'' he said.

St. George's South MP Mrs. Grace Bell asked to be associated with Mr.

Spurling's remarks about Mrs. Hayward.

Recalling that Mrs. Hayward was affectionately known as "Granny Hayward'', Mrs. Bell said Mrs. Hayward had been proud to receive a letter from the Queen congratulating her on her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Bell also asked that congratulations be sent to Amnesty International Bermuda for celebrating its 10th anniversary.

She stressed that MPs who were not members of the group should consider joining.

This, she said, was done by MPs in Australia and would be helpful in the group's letter-writing to free prisoners of conscience in other parts of the world.

Both Mrs. Bell and Ms Webb asked that congratulations be sent to the organisers of the Human Rights Day ceremony in Victoria Park.

And Ms Webb said the House should also send out condolences to the Council Partners who delivered their feasibility study on fund-raising to eradicate drug abuse in Bermuda.

On a lighter note, Government MP the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge asked the House to send congratulations to Bermudian Mr. Garth Pedro who works for the Tourism Department on the US east coast.

"His efforts have resulted in a 14.6 percent growth in that area,'' Mr.

Woolridge said of Mr. Pedro who was in Bermuda for an executive meeting and visited the House.

Mr. Woolridge also asked that congratulations be sent to the organisers of a Parliamentary prayer breakfast held last week, where the guest speaker was Mr.

Chuck Colson, a former White House aid to Richard Nixon and now the chairman of the board of Prison Fellowship International.

Mr. Williams shared Mr. Woolridge's comments about Mr. Pedro and Mr. Colson's speech.

Government MP Mr. David Dyer asked that congratulations be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Ashton Raynor, of Boss's Cove, Pembroke, who celebrated their 50th anniversary on December 9.

"In a time when things don't seem to last so long, they stuck together through thick and thin and raised a lovely family,'' Mr. Dyer said.

Mr. Edness asked that congratulations be sent to the family of Mr. and Mrs.

Leon Amis of Khyber Pass, Warwick, whose son Kenneth was recently appointed as adjunct assistant professor of Music in Boston University's School for the Arts.

Mr. Edness noted that Kenneth Amis is a member of the famous North American quintet, Empire Brass.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade asked that congratulations be sent to the organisers of the XL Tennis Classic where, he said, PLP MP Mrs. Lois Browne Evans' son Donald, and Billy Way, performed well against world class opposition.

Government MP Mr. Trevor Moniz asked that congratulations be sent to the trustees of the National Gallery for the recent "Secrecy of African Art'' exhibition.

MR. AND MRS. ASHTON RAYNOR -- congratulated by MPs after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

MR. ANTHONY PIERRE -- shot dead by a robber in Philadelphia last week. A suspect has since been arrested.