MPs were involved in angry clashes yesterday over the recent two hour delays which have occurred at the Airport.

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) accused Government of hiding behind the civil servants at the airport who are dealing with the problems and not taking responsibility for solving the hold-ups.

They said these delays gave visitors an unacceptable first impression of the Island and said there was no reason why passengers should be forced to queue onto the tarmac to clear Customs and Immigration.

But Finance Minister Eugene Cox, who is responsible for the Customs and Immigration officers who process the passengers, said the Opposition was giving the misleading impression this was a daily problem when it had only happened twice this year.

He said the hold-ups were caused by a number of delays from planes on two occasions and that the new system - where Immigration now also do the work of Customs - was working well.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said: "We should be bending over backwards making sure the processing is effective to make a good impression on people entering the country (but) once again we've got a two hour delay when people are forced to wait on the tarmac while waiting for clearance. The situation is completely unacceptable." The (Transport) Minister (Dr Ewart Brown) has said its not rocket science, so when more flights come down, there seems to be a relatively simple solution.

"Either put more people on the processing or find a way to modify what's being done at the Airport. It is a disgrace that a visitor to Bermuda can take longer to de-plane than it takes to fly to Bermuda." She said there should have been a parallel run of the new system so any glitches in the process could be ironed out.

The new system was "clearly ineffectual", but she said Mr. Cox, as the minister responsible, "has allowed the civil servants to stand and take a punch on the chin, and has not responded.

"We've had nothing from the Minister of Finance that would give us comfort that everything is under control. The front line civil servant is being made a scapegoat to explain to the visitors why the unsatisfactory situation has been allowed to exist, and the Minister has not allowed (them) one iota of protection. That's disgraceful."

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell joined in the attack, saying the Bermuda Hotel Association had complained about the delays their guests, including repeat visitors, had experienced.

The problem was not the fault of civil servants, but of the system, and Government was "unwilling or unable to tackle the system. It can't be that difficult. We get a minimum of one hour and 45 minutes to know when a plane is arriving and how many people there are.

"They never all come through the airport at the same time. The concept of Customs and Immigration working together is a problem.

"It is not a labour problem, but I believe there is now a labour problem. Is it the workers? I don't believe it is the civil servants, it is the system. With nine desks at the airport, 900 passengers should be able to be processed in an hour, so clearly there was a problem. It is not right for the Finance Minister to say all is right. The Government is in charge and it has responsibility and if it doesn't respond, it is derelict." Mr. Cox said the Opposition was "telling a big falsehood. They are saying people are daily coming into this country and having to wait hours in line and it is happening not one day, but every day. That is the impression". Mr. Cox said there was a problem three or four weeks ago, but there was now more staff and there had been additional training. "Things are working well." He said in one day of delays there were 13 planes coming in, of which eight were late. Customs brought in extra staff for this.

"If the honourable members were being fair and truthful, they would realise it is one day. The Collector of Customs said the international standard was 45 seconds per person, but we're doing 35 people per second.

"Members of the opposite side could not and would not say it because they have a problem. There problem is how did we guys get over there (in Government) and we got over here?

"I see miserable people on the other side. They're saying how did we get over there. How were we so stupid that they are now in driving seat and they are telling the truth. We did it for 35 years and we should do it for another 35 years. Something's wrong about this.

"Come to see us quietly if you have an idea. We are open to ideas, but for God's sake don't come up here every week and moan.

"This has been a singular day problem. The matter is in hand, the problem is being addressed and we've got a system. No one is saying it is perfect, but when you get delays it impacts on the system."