should "kiss and make up'' with the official Government information department.

That was the message from Senate Opposition leader Sen. Alex Scott , during Monday's Budget debate on the Management, Information Services and Telecommunications Ministry.

Sen. Scott said he had heard on the grapevine that because of a difference of opinion, Education went about getting their own publicity machine.

"They should be crying to you for help just about now,'' Sen. Scott told the Minister, the Hon. Mike Winfield . "Government Information Services should be doing that job.'' If GIS took over it would also save money, he added. Sen. Scott said he was not questioning that GIS staff worked hard. But they could improve their image, he said.

"You can't say that you enjoy the best of PR reputations. It's in the best interest of your ministry, as you promote others, that you at least ensure that others say you are doing a good job.'' GIS should challenge perceptions about them, he added.

"There are those who feel that GIS are more of a propaganda machine than an information service.'' They were seen as putting a "spin'' on information on behalf of Government, rather than providing raw information.

He also called for GIS to be a money earner. It could make "info-mercials'' to show to visitors at the airport, he said.

Sen. Scott was replying to a summary of Ministry departments from Sen.

Winfield.

The Minister described how Management Services was helping Government departments decide who their customers were and how best to meet their needs efficiently.

MS was working with the prison service to develop a new approach based on correction, not incarceration, and had helped streamline planning procedure for minor building work.

It was also advising on how to improve the efficiency of big capital projects, the movement of prisoners between Casemates and courts, the running of parish council rest homes and the workings of TCD.

On Telecommunications, Sen. Winfield said Bermuda was still on the leading edge, with great potential for fibre optic and satellite development. The department cost $320,000 a year and brought in $4.8 million, he said.

Turning to GIS, Sen. Winfield praised the 16 staff for their work in aiding Government communication with the public and the media, providing information for overseas bodies, taking photographs for Government advertising and designing official publications.

A staff of four public affairs officers was not a large expense compared to the size of Government, he said. And by the nature of their job they were designed to be invisible to the public.

Sen. Scott again complained that about two years ago he had been assured that the Broadcasting Commission would look into a complaint. Yet he had heard nothing since.

Turning to the cancelling of the TV interview show "Behind the Headlines'', he said whoever made the decision to take the show off the air was not well advised.

There was no way the show had violated broadcasting regulations, he said.

"This Island is so pre-occupied with someone saying the wrong thing that they don't realise this is a democracy.

"When the Broadcasting Commission brings their heavy hand to bear it really makes my blood run cold, to think that in this little Island we have the making of folks that would pull the switch in a minute if you said something that they worried about.'' On Management Services, he said some civil servants had complained about the way reviews were done. MS officials should work with staff and give them a chance of feedback, he said.

Sen. Joe Johnson (Ind) suggested that while MS was looking at the movement of inmates between the prison and the courts, it could consider using one of West End buildings as a court.

Referring to Sen. Scott's allegation, Sen. Winfield said the Broadcasting Commission had replied to the senator about his complaint. "He was replied to within three weeks of his letter.'' Turning to "Behind the Headlines'', he said the BBC were trying to establish some editorial control of the show and get an advance look at what would be transmitted.

Presenter Mr. Walton Brown had an appointment with the Broadcast Commissioners, he said. They would try to explain and resolve the matter.