to allow the sale of secondhand cars.

And, according to Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall, it will remove a vestige left over from the days when Government was in the hands of big business.

But fears that allowing sales of second-hand cars in Bermuda will add to congestion were expressed by Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr. Marshall said: "Such a change will allow those Bermudians who presently cannot afford a car to purchase one.

"Those who argue that a change in the law will increase the number of cars on the road are in effect stating that the less well off in our community should not have a car.

"It cannot be right in these times to restrict the ownership of private cars to the more wealthy.'' The law which stated that Bermudians should buy new cars and keep them for up to a year before scrapping them, selling them for taxis or exporting them, makes no sense according to the Transport Minister.

Mr. Marshall said the old law saw perfectly good cars scrapped and a resulting net loss of foreign currency was realised when the new car was imported. It flew against the whole concept of recycling and conservation.

He said: "In times of economic difficulty such a change in the law would allow a family owning a relatively expensive car to sell that car and purchase a less expensive model and utilise the net profits received.'' Autobody and repair work would increase on the Island to help lessen the unemployment problem.

And Mr. Marshall tried to allay fears that secondhand parking lots would appear all over the Island by stating that the owner would only be able to sell the car to another Bermudian household.

He said: "The existing law whereby the owner of a private car is prohibited from selling that car without waiting a year to purchase another car is perceived in the community as being an anachronism and a vestige left over from the days when Government was in the hands of big businesses.

"It is seen as a form of protection for the several car dealers who, in the past, were well represented in the Government of these Islands.

"Compelling members of the community to buy a new car when they desire a replacement is clearly wrong for a number of reasons.

"It is of note that this matter is now being considered at a time when the number of licensed private cars has decreased considerably.'' Mr. Hayward said it would lead to an unacceptable rise in congestion. He said Government should form a comprehensive traffic scheme. It was also wrong to increase cars, and cut down on public transportation.

But UBP MP Mrs. Grace Bell said recycling the vehicles would be a great foreign exchange saver.