yesterday.

Former Senate leader the Hon. Mr. Charles Collis, head of a new Government team examining the future of Bermuda's bases, said a decision on the Annex had yet to emerge from US policy makers.

Defence chiefs were rethinking their plans for US bases because of the collapse of Soviet communism and the new unsettled state of the world, said Mr. Collis. The Presidential election was also a factor.

"For the United States, the whole matter is on hold and they are reviewing the whole of their options,'' he said.

Mr. Collis' statement challenges the widely-held belief that the 255-acre annex will close next year as part of a 60 percent cut in personnel.

But he pledged yesterday: "We will be told as soon as anybody does know''.

Mr. Collis is chairing a committee on the use of any land that might be returned to Bermuda by Canada or the States.

"There has been no formal notification from any government regarding release of any land,'' Mr. Collis said yesterday.

"We're just aware that things may happen and may happen fairly quickly.

Government is very concerned not to be caught unprepared.'' Although there has been no official announcement from Canada, the commanding officer of the Daniel's Head base has said plans are to cease operations next May and close down at the end of next year.

The committee is therefore giving priority to examining the Canadian base.

Government wants any future use of the 29-acre site to be self-supporting, and would prefer the complex to be used by one body.

Mr. Collis said it would be good for Bermuda if a prestigious international group, like a scientific of environmental body, moved there.

He said the base would be left like a tiny town, with offices, recreation, and homes.

The committee's brief is to gather information on the bases and advise on what to do with them if they close. It will consider detailed, written suggestions from the public.

Committee members are: Miss Carolyn Mello of the Chamber of Commerce, insurance executive Miss Cathy Lord, Bank of Bermuda president Mr. Donald Lines, Mr. Henry Ming of the National Trust, West End resident Mr. Teddy Tucker, senior Bank of Butterfield officer Mr. Stephen Kempe, and Senator Joe Johnson. Two more names have yet to be announced.