according to Transport Minister Wayne Furbert.

The Minister also revealed that Bermudianisation of Airport jobs was increasing and Government would soon be offering to pay for courses to train Bermudians as meteorological staff.

He also said a review of management would soon be underway which could change the way the Airport is run -- including the possibility of privatisation.

And he said a study was underway called Transport 2000 which would produce a Green Paper on transport and road safety.

Mr. Furbert was speaking yesterday as he unveiled the progress made on a multi-million-dollar up-grading of the existing Airport.

Immigration and customs areas are being changed and expanded and new shops and cafes for departing and arriving tourists are being built.

The Airport's facade is also being altered, the baggage area changed, parking altered and taxi drivers given their own area in which to wait.

Government's part of the work should be completed by the end of May and it is hoped the concessions, except the food and drink area, will be finished by the end of August.

Millions of dollars are also being invested in the runway, new runway lighting, foreshore protection and a new courier building.

Yesterday Mr. Furbert said when Government took over the Airport in 1995 there were 65 Bermudians and 40 foreign workers.

Now there are 120 Bermudians and just a handful of foreign workers, mainly in management but who will be replaced by their Bermudian understudies.

Government, he said, will soon be offering to send Bermudians overseas for training in mathematics and physics for people wanting to join the meteorological staff.

He said Larry Jacobs, the Corporation of St. George's secretary, was working on the transport study which would produce a green paper for discussion.

"In the future we will be looking forward in the next 15 or 20 years to building a new Airport depending on demand and the wear and tear of the existing Airport,'' said Mr. Furbert.

"However we also have to recover costs to reduce operating expenditure and we are looking at different management styles.'' He said a review of management was due to go before the Cabinet in the next few weeks looking at how to raise revenue and said privatisation had not been ruled out.

"I cannot reveal what type of structure will be set up,'' said Mr. Furbert.

BIG PLANS -- Transport Minister Wayne Furbert