ERROR RG P4 24.2.1999 A report in Monday's newspaper stated that $42.68 million had been allocated to fund Police recruitment and training in this year's Budget. The figure earmarked for the recruitment drive is in fact $2.68 million.

Friday's Budget statement revealed Government's intent to Bermudianise the Island's Police Service as quickly as possible.

And while the total amount of cash made available to the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety is similar to that of previous budgets, more emphasis has been placed on promotional campaigns, recruitment drives and training.

In a fresh initiative, money has been set aside to create junior and full cadet schemes in a bid to encourage youngsters to join the Service.

The force is expected to be boosted by an extra ten staff by the end of the year including four extra training officers.

Government has also allocated $721,000 for in-house training, compared to $256,000 in the last budget.

And a further $42.68 million will be spent on recruitment, public relations and the training of new recruits.

On Friday Mr. Cox said: "In the Government's pre-election platform we stressed the need for good law and order.

"The community has more recently been concerned about the ability to address crime both in policing and prosecution. The Government supports the need for good policing methods in Bermuda and is prepared to allocate an additional $1.7 million to the support of the Bermuda Police Service for the year 1999-2000.

"This will cover a wide range of programmes but I wish to emphasise in particular the $800,000 allocated to training and development, which includes the establishment of a junior cadet scheme and the re-establishment of the full cadet scheme, the latter promised in our Throne Speech.. .

"$167,000 will support training and professional assistance to the financial investigations unit, necessary to support the recent Proceeds of Crime Act.

"$36,000 will support the installation and operational cost of new ionscan technology, invaluable in the war on drugs. $85,000 will be used to fund a management services consultant who will assist in a review of the utilisation of the human resources of the service.'' The Department of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety has been given more cash than last year as part of the new Government's desire for "good law and order''.

But while more emphasis has been placed on Police training, the Island's firefighters have had their training budget cut from $69,000 last year to $61,000 for 1999.

While the Fire Service has received marginally more cash this year compared to last -- $6.1 million against $5.9 million -- the surplus is swallowed up by a higher salaries bill and repair and maintenance costs.

While the Finance Minister Eugene Cox has managed to find extra cash for the Ministry compared to last year, the actual figure of $65 million represents a smaller slice of the revenue pie than in previous budgets. Last year the Ministry received 12.47 percent of total Government revenue, while this year it has been allocated just 11.6 percent.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA