Bermudians wishing to get a British passport can save money if they get a move on - fees for larger passports and those for children are going up.

The 32-page adult passport will stay at $78.40 but children's passports will rise from $44.95 to $46.40 and the 48-page adult document has gone up three dollars to $96.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said the fees were revised to keep them in line with UK charges but currency fluctuations had made an adjustment necessary. He said rounding up had meant the 32-page passport had kept its price.

However he said if applications were in the system with a money order dated before July 12 people would be charged the old rate. Bermudian authorities also charge a handling fee of $80.

The news comes as the first batch of British passports arrived for Bermudians after the law changed allowing citizens of overseas territories full rights of UK citizenship.

MP Trevor Moniz said his passport arrived last week - exactly six weeks after his application. He said it would help sportsmen and women who had previously suffered work permit problems at British Immigration.

He said: "It's a terrific thing for young people."

Government backbencher El James agreed and said his son Xavier, 26, could benefit in his athletics career.

"Anyone like him who is pursuing athletics who are in any way limited here because of exposure can easily, on a British passport, go where training facilities are a lot better, where the opportunities are a lot better," said Mr. James.

He said this applied to all sportsmen and women who wanted to expand their horizons as well as for people who wanted to travel, study or work without running into red tape. He said: "It will benefit a lot of people who are progressive."

Mr. James said he would be applying for a British passport himself and for his family but he said he still believed Bermuda should be independent.

He said: "Under the present circumstances this is good, the ultimate I believe would be independence."

And Mr. James refused to be drawn on rumours that he didn't support Bermuda's moves to link up with CARICOM, the Caribbean common market.

He said the issue was still being debated within the Progressive Labour Party and would then go to the House of Assembly.

He said: "I will express my views when the time comes."