Bermuda's creaking courts.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister claimed previous UBP Governments had sat on the problem for nine years and did nothing.

He claimed the major reason for the delay was "the reluctance of the former Government to provide the required funds''.

And Mr. Lister pledged up to $350,000 to set up an audio recording system for the courts -- with permission already granted to Civil Servants to start looking for suppliers.

He also pointed out that previous administrations had spent a small fortune on one-off recording for some trials and even installed a tape system in Supreme Courts in 1997 -- which cannot now be used because there is not enough staff to transcribe the tapes.

But Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons hit back and said that a top reason for the delay was convincing Island judges a new system of recording evidence was needed.

And he pointed out that February's Budget made no mention of cash being set aside to set up a modern reporting system in Supreme and Magistrates' Courts -- which suggested Government only acted after a direct approach from fed-up Island lawyers.

But last night Bar Association member Juliana Jack -- one of three lawyers on a special board set up to look at possible systems -- steered clear of political controversy and said lawyers were just happy that something was being done.

The row came just a week after the Bermuda Bar Association took the unusual step of petitioning the House of Assembly direct, asking MPs to approve a proper recording system as soon as possible.

Dr. Gibbons said: "In effect, the Minister of Finance will have to bring a supplementary estimate to the House to implement this.

"It was not in the Budget in the $35 million which was the increase on the previous year's Budget.

"One would have thought they could have found the money for a court reporting system in there if they had really intended to proceed with this.'' Dr. Gibbons admitted: "There has been some work done in the past -- but we have to have the full support of the judiciary.

"And not all of the judges were convinced they wanted to have that.'' He added: "One of the reasons a pilot study was done in 1997 was that we had to show it would not only reduce time in court but improve speed and accuracy.

"What the Minister said was not accurate at all -- there was a fair amount of work done, but there was not the support for putting it in.'' Mr. Lister told the House there was a clear commitment to a modern reporting system in the PLP General Election manifesto in the run-up to last November's poll.

He said: "We are committed to fixing the problem inherited from the prior Government in our platform.

"All avenues have been exhausted to ensure that the Bermuda courts will indeed have a modern and reliable court reporting system that is both expedient and cost-effective to the taxpayer.

"In the light of the urgency of this matter..this Government will not permit the cost of this venture to deter us from obtaining the most suitable system for our courts in the most reasonable time frame.'' Ms Jack said: "I don't care which political party tries to score points from this -- all I care about is a modern court reporting system being implemented.'' She added: "I'm very happy with the new Government's commitment -- whoever wants to take the credit can take it, as long as lawyers, the judiciary and the public gets the system, we will all benefit.'' And she agreed a petition signed by most of the Island's lawyers may have been a major factor in the speed of Government's decision.

Ms Jack said: "I think the petition certainly didn't hurt the issue -- it helped, and I'm grateful to the Minister for acting so quickly.'' Pledge of funds: Terry Lister