they often forget why they were upset in the first place, a Government senator said yesterday.

Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) made these allegations during the Upper House's first session devoted to debating the Throne Speech.

She was the third senator to speak following the Hon. Gerald Simons (UBP) and Sen. Milton Scott (PLP).

Amid the mocking grins and raised eyebrows of her colleagues for her choice of "everyday speech'' during her address, Sen. Swan (UBP) took aim at the Opposition party.

Central to her criticism was the PLP's constant reference to their being the first to place certain social items on their platform.

It was more important, she said, to acknowledge that it was the Government who actually implemented these initiatives.

Particularly distressing, Sen. Swan said, was the alarming increase in crime which cannot be blamed on drugs alone.

But, she warned, there will never be any decrease in criminal activity if policy initiatives side with the criminal.

"Crime is a serious thing,'' she said. "I know we don't want to alarm our tourists but we also have to be practical and get `learned up' to cope with the problem.

Sen. Swan said that any realistic programme to combat crime must be multifaceted since no one approach can solve it alone.

"Being the first to come up with an idea doesn't wash...we need to come together.'' Similarly, Sen. Swan said she was looking forward to the upcoming amendments to the Obscene Publications Act.

Sen. Swan said she objected to the way such programmes exploit the female body.

Meanwhile, Government Senate leader the Hon. Gerald Simons (UBP) characterised the recent Throne Speech as one of the more important speeches given during the year.

It was, he said, an attempt to set out the Government's legislative programme.

"Our Blueprint is an organised, planned, structured, approach to the concerns Bermudians have expressed in several key areas.

Sen. Simons said Government is often criticised for having so many committees and task forces.

However, he said he was happy to report that so far 18 of the 111 commitments have been completed.

And the others are at various stages of implementation.

The new mass burn incinerator was now operational and operating at the expected standards, Sen. Simons said, like so many other Government services.

He said that Tynes Bay project's completion means that Government can turn its attention to the Pembroke Dump.

This work, he said, would also help to improve the Parson's Road and Glebe Road areas.

"This is one part of Bermuda that could use a significant upgrading,'' he said.

Sen. Simons added his voice to the chorus of condemnation regarding the Island's crime wave, especially those involving guns.

"Lawlessness is not in anybody's interest. It leads to a diminution in the quality of life we all take for granted and puts in peril the two pillars of our economy, namely, tourism and international business.

Fortunately, he said Government's response will be immediate and long term.

This includes the firearm amnesty which ends in November, and the increased awards for informants and penalties for those convicted of firearms offences.

Long term strategies included establishing more drug rehabilitation centres.

Sen. Simons explained that Government had a three-pronged approach to crime.

This is comprised of strategies which deal with criminal activity as it happens, treating those addicted to drugs and educational and social programmes which aim to cut down on the demand for drugs and alcohol.

The Government's team dealing with the takeover of the United States Naval Bases had matters well in hand, Sen. Simons, said and a contract had just been signed with another company which will conduct the weather forecasting once the US Navy relinquishes the duty.

Sen. Simons said given current figures relating to applications for new building projects, the construction industry will not return to the boon period of the early eighties, but attempts were being made to train and retrain unskilled people.

Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) said his party's response to the Throne Speech was a more humanistic approach to what is currently going on in Bermuda.

He said Bermuda was faced with several serious social ills although there was some debate among MPs over whether the increase in crime was the result of increased reporting or actual criminal activity.

He said the reasons for crime are varied but the Country's institutions needed to rededicate themselves to the values of caring.

Sen. Scott said he was concerned about the apparent flight to private education in Bermuda, increased welfare recipients and a decline in pension allowances for the elderly.

He chided the United Bermuda Party for its progress report pointing out that Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul's A grade was merely self evaluation.

Sen. Scott said the current talk of school boards posed a few problems because Government was attempting to decentralise the process although teachers operated under a collective agreement.

The school boards he said, would have a say in the discipline of teachers but the Public Service Commission already had discipline regulations set out.

"How could this be altered?'' he asked. "The Minister (of Education) has not clearly thought it out.

"He is talking of decentralising.. .but he is building up a bureaucracy. I think the Minister should seek the input from those who make the system work.'' Independent Sen. Alf Oughton , meanwhile, appealed to Bermuda's two main political parties to put aside their squabbling and make a concerted joint effort to fight one of the Island's most pressing problems -- crime.

"Like everyone else in the Country, I too am alarmed by the level of crime on the Island,'' Sen. Oughton said. "Although I have been very impressed by the involvement of small community groups across the Island, some strong leadership is required. I think here is where a bipartisan approach needs to be looked at.'' Another problem Sen. Oughton identified as one that should be addressed immediately was the abuse of society's weakest members.

"One of my biggest concerns is child abuse. I find it totally reprehensible,'' he said. "The recent (abuse) report that was so well-publicised (in the media) was hard to accept. I think we might take a look at mandatory sentences for convicted child abusers.'' More and better daycare services needed Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP), on the other hand, trumpeted the cause of both children and their parents -- specifically the need for more and better daycare services.

"These meetings have been too few and far between,'' she said in reference to a meeting between Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness and members of the Women's Advisory Council. "Women continue to represent 52 percent of the workforce and have many needs. Employees must give these women more flexible hours.'' On the issue of daycare, she added: "Sen. Swan said that women have said they don't need daycare facilities on the job. I've heard they do need daycare on-site. Far too many women are running around -- they're stressed out.'' During the course of her commentary, Sen. Butterfield also expressed concern over the recent failure to increase senior citizens' pensions, the absence of a cultural centre in which Bermudian artists -- especially young ones -- could express themselves and the apparent correlation between unemployment and crime.

Sen. Larry Scott (UBP), however, questioned Sen. Butterfield's latter assumption, disagreeing with her linkage of unemployment to crime and claiming that the partisan sniping that characterises Bermudian politics sets a negative tone that contributes to violence in the streets.

"I think many of Sen. Butterfield's comments, as heart-wrenching as they were in many cases, reflect a profound difference in our approaches to Government,'' he said. "I call (the PLP's) approach Dolism. If, for example, a comment is made in the Democratic camp (in the United States), Sen. Robert Dole offers a comment that is diametrically opposed.'' He added: "We wonder why there is such antagonism between human beings as Sen. Butterfield has said. It is that kind of political confrontation that has bred in the larger society the antagonisms.'' On speaking of the importance of education and the problems that occur from the lack of discipline in schools, Sen. Scott said young people should see education as a means of elevating oneself from ignorance.

"Too many people are telling our children that there are no opportunities for them, and those people have missed the boat.'' He added: "The Premier and the media talk about the fact that when they were in school there was discipline. I believe that corporal punishment administered in a sensible way by responsible adults ought not be discouraged.

Sen. Scott also said that the school system should continue to have the act of disciplining students on the books and "in my opinion that might bring some sanity back in the classroom''.

He also said that the PLP has failed to deal with the question on how to motivate students in the classroom.

"There should be a policy on whether or not teachers should search children's bags. We should try to give a greater discretion to teachers and principals.

We have restricted what teachers can do in the classroom,'' Sen Scott added.

Sen. Norma Astwood said that the new Education Act introduced this Parliamentary session "has such a load on its plate.

"There are teachers teaching in cubby holes with poor lighting, and no opportunities for circulation or fresh air,'' Sen. Astwood said.

She added: "They also have no cupboard space, no desks for teachers or room for a desk, no textbooks or materials and supplies.

"And at the end of June the question will be asked to them, how come you haven't done A, B and C.

Sen. Astwood also said there are some instances that teachers work in isolation.

"How do you get a curriculum together on behalf of the child, that is not education,'' she said.

Sen. Astwood added that the education system was going through a time of restructuring, and reorganisation.

"There are a number of young people who's education will be compromised because adults are dealing with restructuring etc. It's going to cost us, Sen.

Astwood said.

She added that Government has set out a plan for restructuring the education system.

"There is a large number of excellent teachers who truly believe in what they are doing. Just trying to hold a school together is a tremendous responsibility. We owe it to all our students to receive an education.'' And on the Code of Discipline Sen. Astwood said there should be one code applicable to all schools.

She added: "We should have a code, not some codes.'' Sen. Astwood hoped Government would step up its efforts to help the elderly become more mobile.

For example, old folk needed help getting to and from a physician's office, she said.

Gov't recognises Bermuda is at a crossroads, says Milligan-Whyte Sen. Astwood suggested a minibus service be set up for the elderly.

Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte , who returned to the Upper House last month, began by referring to Sen. Milton Scott's remark that Bermuda was at a crossroads.

"This Government recognises that,'' she said, adding Bermuda was entering a new stage in its development.

"The goal of Government is to produce a mature, well-informed, and participatory society.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte said the focus would turn once again to families -- critical if the Island was to come to grips with lawlessness.

"We all recognise that crime is increasing in the community and is threatening the very substance of what Bermuda has traditionally been all about.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte said Government, through its Blueprint, had produced a national plan.

"The PLP have been calling for a national plan. Once we put forward a national plan we hear nothing from the PLP.'' She stressed the national plan reflected a "sensitive, caring and committed'' Government.

Government made some 111 commitments in the Blueprint, and was already acting on 86 of them.

These 86 commitments covered 10 different areas -- eight of which had an impact on the average Bermudian, she said.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte turned to home ownership.

"We believe everyone should aspire to achieve ownership of a home,'' she said.

She stressed home ownership represented an investment in Bermuda. And giving people a stake in the Country meant they wouldn't destroy it.

On race relations, Sen. Milligan-Whyte said Government had pledged to form a commission.

Government had recognised that black people in large numbers had not been able to compete in the business world and reach the highest positions.

Plans for a cultural facility also demonstrated Government's intention to bring people together.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte then switched to proposals to amend the Protection of Children Act.

Government was determined to send a message to the community that sexual abuse of children would not be tolerated.

Teachers and principals should be on their guard against men preying on youngsters at schools.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte also touched on the development of a Family Court.

"This is a very significant achievement of Government.'' On education, she said there were moves to improve public schools. Children, after all, were the future.

"All we have is the value of people. Only through education will we raise productivity of the people, such as those in the hospitality industry.'' She added: "Our Government is committed to focussing on pre-school education programmes.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte accepted there was a need for technical training.

This would obviate the need to bring in plumbers and carpenters from overseas.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte then turned to Bermuda's search for a third economic pillar, after tourism and international business.

Such areas as telecommunications, computer software and information technology were being looked at.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) opened his address by asking: "Where is the leadership of this Country?'' He then sought to pick holes in Government's progress report on its Blueprint promises.

There were only very few successes -- despite United Bermuda Party claims, he said.

On the environment front, for instance, Government boasted about completing the Tynes Bay Incinerator, hailing this as a kept promise.

The fact was the incinerator had to open at some time.

Sen. Lister said it was more important to look at the Pembroke Dump proposals.

Government claimed properties in the area would gain in value once the site was tidied up.

This was typical of the way the UBP looked at everything in terms of dollars and cents, said Sen. Lister.

The PLP, in contrast, had always seen the dump issue in "human terms'', and how people's lives were being affected.

Sen. Lister ripped into Government's boast about a Family Court which it held up as another Blueprint promise kept.

The court building did not exist yet, said Sen. Lister.

He also attacked the planned locale for it, saying it would not be private enough.

The debate will be continued in tomorrow's newspaper.