from the legal list of holidays.

The move came after the Senate sent a bill aiming to mark the freeing of slaves in Bermuda by renaming one of the annual Cup Match holidays Emancipation Day.

With Somers Day -- commemorating the 1609 claiming of Bermuda for the Crown -- the two days make up Cup Match, celebrated with a two-day cricket game.

The bill passed the House despite an Opposition bid led by Shadow Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt to change the amendment to make the two days legally known as Cup Match.

But yesterday Premier Jennifer Smith tabled a Government amendment allowing Cup Match to remain a legal term, while changing Cup Match Day to Emancipation Day.

Mr. Barritt said: "There is no objection on this side to the amendment and I congratulate Government on bringing forward this change.

"We on this side are happy to recognise the combination of Emancipation Day and Somers Day as Cup Match.'' And he added: "For the life of us, we can't think of why we didn't think of it first.'' But he said: "As my colleagues have reminded me, there was a similar amendment put forward.

"The idea was presented in an amendment from this side that we wanted to recognise the Cup Match holiday.'' Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb presented the original bill to the House in the absence of Ms Smith and Mr. Barritt's amendment was voted down 17-12.

Mr. Barritt said: "The Minister who presented the bill scoffed at the idea -- and here we are today with an about face.

"Somewhere between then and now, the Members opposite saw the light. We on this side were happy to provide some new light in this new Bermuda.'' It was pointed out in Senate that the schedule of the original 1947 Act allowing the two-day holiday was amended by the new bill, but the main Act still contained the Cup Match name, which meant an alteration was needed.

Ms Smith confirmed that that had presented problems, leading to the acceptance of the Senate recommendation.