Christmas decorating effort on the Island -- the light display at the American International Building.

"Every year I look forward to doing this,'' he said.

The 51-year-old engineer said it took him and a team of four men almost ten days to do the job.

And he is a perfectionist. He cannot note a fault or missing bulb in the display without fixing it.

He recalled a time when he was out on the roof changing bulbs in a tuxedo, having driven by on his way to a dinner party.

This year, more than 3,000 bulbs, almost 4,000 feet of clothesline wire, at least 60 wood clamps, and 37 big rolls of electrical tape were used to mount the spectacle.

The lights are turned on at 4.30 p.m., and go off at 2 a.m. Then the lights go on between 5.30 and 7.30 a.m."so the early risers have something to see.'' The tradition began about 20 years ago, Mr. Carter said.

The decorations moved upward from the lawn to the side of the building to its top and sides and then all the way around.

"You see the amount of houses over there (behind the building),'' he pointed out. "It gives them a lot of joy.'' In the past his object has been "to see how high I can go''.

"Two years ago, I had a 20-foot two-sided star placed 40 feet up. But I have to start reducing a bit.'' The tradition was nearly broken this year due to renovations going on inside the building.

"However, the President of the Company said it had to be done,'' he said.

And so it was. This year the building is decorated with four green bows at the corners. Four stars shoot out from the central point. And four angels cluster under a halo on top.

Above the doorway, Mr. Carter put a 14-foot dead cedar tree strung with lights. "My guys thought I was crazy,'' he said.

Nor is Mr. Carter likely to run out of ideas in the future. The basement storeroom contains candles, strings of lights, Santas, wreathes, snowmen, reindeer and spotlights.

Mr. Carter said he decorates using a theme, so only a part of the stock is used each year.

"Planes used to make a special trip around the building,'' he said.

"This year, I was going to write WELCOME TO BERMUDA on the roof, but we didn't have the time. It's a good thought for next year though.'' LIGHT UP TIME -- Engineer Mr. Dennis Carter shows off the star on top of the American International building where he has designed the Christmas lights for 20 years.