Senators passed a Bill yesterday ensuring commercial pesticide handlers have proper training before applying potentially dangerous chemicals.

The Pesticide Safety Act 2008 will also streamline the importation of pesticides which will have to be approved by only one Government department, not two, and it will ensure only authorised people ship them in.

Pest control companies and people selling pesticides must get a license. In response to questions from United Bermuda Party Senator Jeanne Atherden, Junior Minister Marc Bean explained the public would be able to see the list of licensed pest control operatives, possibly in the official gazette.

Senators also passed the Post Office Amendment Act 2009. Junior Minister Walton Brown said the bill would improve efficiency. UBP Senator Michael Fahy said he welcomed the bill if it would speed up post. He said in the UK post was sometimes delivered twice a day while a letter delivered in Edinburgh could be on a doormat in London the next morning. But he said in tiny Bermuda a letter could take two weeks to reach its location.

During the motion to adjourn Government Senator Thaao Dill said the election of President Obama was being used by some to claim that because there was a black president there were 'no more excuses for black people'. He said it would be a dangerous bonanza for those bent on maintaining the status quo and white superiority.

He said the election of Mr. Obama should be looked at another way – no more excuses for failing urban schools that could produce such a man or to allow near poverty conditions to exist.

The UBP's Senator Fahy raised the controversy over the Police/Court building and attacked Government for apparently not knowing who was involved in trusts in a project which involved $78 million people's money. He said: "I think the public has a right to know who is behind that trust."