fairer sex to be among the trustees of the National Sports Centre.

They were supported by Independent Senator the Hon. Norma Astwood who claimed women brought greater sensitivity to public life.

She also appealed for young people to be represented on the board of trustees.

The pleas were greeted sympathetically by Sports, Youth and Recreation Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon .

She vowed to take up the concerns, and held out the prospect of women trustees in the near future.

At least two women were willing to serve, and some were already on sports centre sub-committees.

The comments were made as Senators debated The National Sports Centre Trustees Amendment Act 1993. It was later passed unopposed.

Sen. Gordon said the amendment was to ensure sports centre trustees were able to raise funds for capital development.

The legislation would make them accountable to the Finance Minister and Accountant General.

Sen. Gordon underlined the benefits of the private sector raising cash.

It relieved Government of a financial burden, thus saving the taxpayer. And it also helped the public "buy into'' the sports centre and have a stake in it.

Sen. Trevor Woolridge (PLP), however, accused Government of abdicating responsibility for the sports centre.

"The Government finds itself again giving away the responsibility of managing and raising funds and the like for work they should have done and completed some time ago.'' Sen. Woolridge said it was clear the United Bermuda Party's commitment to young people was cosmetic.

He accused the UBP of "electioneering'' and "grandstanding'' on the issue.

And he said the Sports Ministry was often used as merely a "training ground'' for more senior Cabinet posts.

Sen. Woolridge went on to criticise the absence of women on the board of trustees.

This did not reflect the contribution women made to the community.

And he would have expected a female Minister such as Sen. Gordon to have taken up the cause of women.

Sen. Woolridge ended by asking when the National Stadium project would be finished.

Government Senate leader the Hon. Michael Winfield immediately mounted a fierce attack on Sen. Woolridge's speech.

It demonstrated the Progressive Labour Party's complete inability to understand changes taking place in the world.

"It is no longer for Government to be all things to all people.'' Governments these days were facilitators, and organisers who could bring resources together.

And, said Sen. Winfield, Bermuda's Government believed in a partnership with the private sector which would take the pressure off the public purse.

Sen. Winfield went on to declare it "shameful'' for Sen. Woolridge to suggest Sen. Gordon was not committed to young people.

He also dismissed criticism of Government for chopping and changing its National Stadium plans.

Changes were inevitable, and to say otherwise was "outrageous'' and defied the basic concept of a listening Government.

PLP Senate leader Sen. Alex Scott claimed Government had got itself into a hole over the stadium.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, had been lost at the early planning stages.

Sen. Scott said it was a "grave disappointment'' no women trustees had been appointed to the board.

Women made up a very important part of the sporting community.

Sen. Scott went on to voice fears about the trustees making decisions not in the best interests of the Country.

But Sen. Jerome Dill (UBP) stressed there were many "checks and balances'' in the legislation, which ensured Ministerial power to control the board.

The Sports Minister could revoke the appointment of trustees, including the whole board, he added.

Sen Ira Philip (PLP) accused Government of "bungling'' the three-stage National Stadium project.

The first phase had still not been completed -- and there were problems with the lights, electric power, changing rooms, and seating plan.

These deficiencies had been highlighted during the World Cup qualifying matches, said Sen. Philip.

Sen. Astwood voiced concern there were no trustees in their 20s.

This was a failing since most of those who used the stadium were young, and should have a voice on the board.