Senators from all sides yesterday voiced support for keeping the hospital on its present site rather than taking up green space when it is replace.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board is consulting on plans for three sites ? the current location in Point Finger Road or on open land at the Arboretum or Botanical Gardens.

Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes said the need for a new hospital was clear but taking green space should be avoided at all costs. The former Permanent Secretary of the Environment remembered the present hospital obliterating an orchard at the Botanical Gardens when it was built in the 1960s and now green land was even scarcer.

He received support from UBP Senators Kenny Bascome and Kim Swan, Government Sen. Neville Tyrrell and and Senate President Alf Oughton.

Senators agreed to changes bringing in two-day travel passes for ferries and buses aimed at cruise passengers who typically stay two days.

The Marine Board (Ferry Services Fares) Regulations 2005 and the Government Omnibus (Fares) Amendment Regulations 2005 was passed with all-party support.

Once the regulations come into effect, tickets and passes will be available for the first time for one day to a week for ferries and two day passes for buses.

There are currently only one-day, three-day, four-day, seven-day and monthly and three-month passes available.

There will be a slight adjustment in the prices of the new transportation passes. During the debate Senator Bob Richards said ferry workers seemed particularly keen to take industrial action despite increased public use of the ferries.

He said: "With additional reliance comes additional responsibilities to commuters and visitors."

Sen. Kim Swan called for payment for journeys to be made easier after noting bus drivers were sometimes short with visitors who offered notes instead of change.

He said a public information campaign was need to make visitors aware and he also said it should be made possible to pay with credit card as was done in Newark.