Government will be reviewing several ideas for a proposed court reporting system this week.

And the president of the Bermuda Bar Association has praised Government on taking such "speedy'' action in moving to implement the system within the next year.

Veteran attorney Richard Hector was responding to news that the Management Services Department will be carrying out its first review of proposals for the system this week, requests for which were made last September.

Management Services spokesman Kent DeGeer explained how progress for the planned implementation was coming along.

"We have received between six to eight design proposals from both local and overseas companies,'' Mr. DeGeer said. "A committee including representatives from the Bermuda Bar Association and from the Supreme Court will conduct its first review of the ideas this week.'' In regards to whether they were primarily looking for a simple analog system or a more advanced and more expensive digital system, Mr. DeGeer said: "We are keeping a completely open mind. We'll have to see what happens when we view the proposals and hear what the various interested parties think is best.'' Mr. Hector specified that he believed the less expensive option was the right one, saying: "We are keen to have an efficient system that doesn't go beyond our basic needs.'' Asked when it was hoped the system would be ready, Mr. DeGeer would only speculate.

"That again will completely depend on which solution we end up choosing,'' he said. "Time estimates have gone as low as within three or four months, but then again there's no way of really knowing right now.

"We have been asked to move it along as fast as we possibly can. Right now judges have to stop proceedings so they can write everything down. The system will put an end to this. It is, therefore, a high priority for us to get it implemented.'' One of the election promises in last year's Progressive Labour Party manifesto was that the implementation of a court reporting system would be one of their main objectives.

And in June, Development and Opportunities Minister Terry Lister pledged funds of up to $350,000 for its instalment after members of the Bermuda Bar Association petitioned the House of Assembly directly.

Mr. Lister claimed that the main reason for the long wait was "the reluctance of the former Government to provide the required funds''.

Mr. Hector yesterday expressed his delight that the process was moving quickly.

"I'm very happy to hear it is one of their top priorities and I think that this Government should be complimented on the speed they are moving at in regards to this,'' he said.