in the hotel industry, a top Cabinet Minister has charged.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness , speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, said 1993 will be a "watershed'' year for the hotel industry.

Although Bermuda could begin emerging from the recession next summer, potential hotel problems lurked, he said.

Mr. Edness said the hotel industry had been in decline before the recession.

It was essential now for hoteliers, the Bermuda Industrial Union, and Government, and various segments of the private sector to form an attitude of mutual goodwill to resolve the problems.

Mr. Edness, speaking during the motion to adjourn in the House of Assembly.

said there was talk of another hotel closing. This must not be allowed to happen.

"If it does we are in serious trouble,'' he warned.

He also added he had been concerned about reports of the BIU's poor financial state.

"I would hate to think the BIU will suffer a demise. I believe it plays a very important role.'' Mr. Edness, however, said he believed the union's leadership had not always helped its own cause or its members.

But management should also share the blame for the Country's labour problems.

It has not always communicated with the union or followed procedures, said Mr.

Edness.

Also in the motion to adjourn, Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen welcomed a recent Royal Gazette article in which Sir John said he was receptive to tax breaks for hotels.

The PLP had been calling for such tax relief for years, he claimed.

"Finally Government has seen the light,'' he mocked.

Mr. Stuart Hayward (Ind) said plans to shut down a toxic chemical waste incinerator in Ohio raised fears about the Tyne's Bay plant.

He added a number of hazardous chemicals are likely to be burned in Bermuda's proposed incinerator.

This gave serious cause for concern, said Mr. Hayward.

Mr. Hayward said he welcomed the Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan's acceptance that disrespect for others violated Human Rights.

He urged him to impress this upon his Cabinet colleagues.

Mr. Hayward poked fun at Sir John for accusing the Speaker last week of gross discourtesy by adjourning the House before he could speak.

"It was poetic justice,'' he laughed.

Sir John told MPs he had seen the film Malcolm X.

He said the PLP intellectually represented the early Malcolm X during his isolationist phase, when he believed in separating whites and blacks.

In contrast, the UBP reflected the later Malcolm X whose liberal views mirrored those of Martin Luther King.

Sir John went on to ridicule Mr. Hayward's apparent fixation with environmental issues.

He dubbed him "an environmental virus'' -- referring to a computer virus which produced nothing, but jammed up the works.

Sir John rubbished Mr. Hayward's interjection that he had been offered the Environment Ministry.

"I wouldn't have him in my Cabinet,'' said Sir John to laughing PLP MPs.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith urged Government to rethink proposed Budget cuts for Bermuda College.

She said the college needed "special consideration.'' Miss Smith also called for work to replace missing railing from the swing bridge at St. George's.

Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons said his ministry, like others, was faced with cash constraints brought on by the recession.

Cuts for Bermuda College would hit operating costs -- not the capital budget.

Mr. Simons pointed out salaries ate up much of the ministry's budget.