given the respect they deserve.

And he said too much emphasis was placed on university education and white collar jobs by parents, teachers and guidance counsellors -- even when youngsters were better suited to other career paths.

Sen. Pitman said: "We have got to get back to respecting trades.'' And he called for guidance counsellors to spend more time with school pupils to ensure they embarked on studies -- whether craft or professional -- which suited them best.

Sen. Pitman was speaking as the Senate continued its debate on the second reading of the National Training Board Act 1997.

He said that the days when people could get a secure job for life in unchanging companies had been overtaken by technology and innovation and that the idea of unemployment was a relatively new concept for Bermuda.

He added: "People need the opportunity to acquire the needed skills and training in order to ensure competitiveness in Bermuda's job market.'' But he warned: "The employers in Bermuda -- all of them -- must be committed to this national training effort. If they are not on board it won't work. But I am very optimistic.'' Sen. Noela Haycock (UBP) backed Sen. Pitman's view on the trades -- pointing out that the most impressive office block in Bermuda would be useless without an army of people qualified to maintain them.

But she said parental pressure in particular meant that young people felt discouraged from training for a trade.

She added: "I don't know of an electrician, plumber or a carpenter who doesn't have a good lifestyle.'' Sen. Haycock also called on the mothers of Bermuda to stop mollycoddling their sons.

She said: "They have got to take their responsibility for chores around the home. Girls do it -- but for some reason boys are not expected to do it.'' Sen. ET (Bob) Richards (UBP) said Bermuda, despite protectionist measures, could not expect to be insulated from global competition.

He added that businesses had a choice whether they used Bermudian services or whether they use someone else's.

And he said: "Some of our present citizenry don't know or have forgotten that -- that people are Bermuda's only resource.'' He added that a "criminal subculture, many of them unemployed or unemployable'' had grown up.

And he said that some were unemployable because of attitude problems -- and he cited the case of Operation Cleansweep accused Gregory Tucker, who assaulted David Skinner, deputy chief photographer for The Royal Gazette , as he was taken into court last week.

Mr. Richards added that Tucker was "not likely to be an asset to society because of these attitudes.'' Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP) said there were a large number of school leavers with "few skills or no skills at all.'' But she added many parents had lost their jobs and households were not functioning properly.

She said: "When we see these attitudes we also have to look at the seriousness of what we are going through.

And she added retraining for those vulnerable to the wind of change in the workplace, especially men aged between 18 and 40, with some even older, had to become a priority.

Sen. Butterfield said that she knew from her own work experiences that people's lives could be changed completely by basic instruction in reading and counting.

And she hit out at complaints about "attitude'' from Senators on the Goverment side.

She said: "There is no sense coming in here and talking about attitudes -- these attitudes come from frustration.'' Sen. Butterfield added: "We have to help them to stay to the wicket. When they are given a second chance, we have to help them stay to the wicket. If you stay to the wicket, the runs will come.'' And she said it was time for a comprehensive education programme in the prison system.

Senate President, Sen. Albert Jackson said it was obvious all Senators agreed the Act was important.

He said the old Royal Naval Dockyard had provided Bermudians with a valuable training ground for the trades -- and one which had never been properly replaced, although the old Bermuda Technical Institute had filled a valuable niche in its day.

And he warned unless action was taken, the level of skills and expertise Bermuda had enjoyed would vanish.

In answer to questions, Sen. Yvette Swan said it was hoped not to have to force prisoners into doing courses -- because forcing them would inevitably cause resentment and poor performance.

And she added that UK City and Guilds qualifications -- technical certificates with worldwide recognition -- would be offered at Bermuda College.

On obtaining information from employers, Sen. Larry Scott (UBP) said: "We live in an environment where employers are very reluctant to give out information, unless required by law (employers) aren't going to give the information out.'' He also said that the National Training Board Act lacked a penalty for offences.

If an offence is to be identified, then there should be a penalty, he said.

Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said the Act includes a penalty of up to $500.

"It may not be a lot'' but it is the amount that is placed in the legislation, she said.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) asked if a section of the Act which says a minor may not enter into an apprenticeship unless permitted by a parent or guardian contravened any international labour laws.

The intent of the relevant section of the Act is to make sure employers don't create production lines, Sen. Larry Scott said.

Section 26 of the Act refers to employers appointing individuals within their company to oversee apprenticeships, Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) added.

Continued tomorrow