in a derelict Devonshire Academy building, senators heard on Friday.

Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP) said Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith had raised the issue months ago in the Bermuda Times.

Nothing had been done she realised when she saw The Royal Gazette report on Friday.

The books could be used in other Government institutions, she suggested. They were also a fire risk, bearing in mind recent horrific arson attacks.

Parliamentary education secretary Sen. Gerald Simons said he thought the situation had been dealt with. It was regrettable that it had not been completely attended to.

Some books had been "re-cycled'' earlier by teachers, and now the others would be used in other schools or institutions.

The student records found with the books were not permanent records like report cards -- only records of particular assignments.

They had now been collected for proper disposition.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) condemned an editorial in the US paper the Richmond Times-Dispatch which hailed the UBP's election win.

He strongly objected to it stating: "Some of the best minds in Bermuda worry that a UBP loss to the PLP the next time out would give the Island a future reminiscent of the past imposed by Linden Pindling on the Bahamas -- a contemptible and cloudy ordeal of drugs and graft.'' No Bermuda politician of any party would say something like that, he said. All senators should be appalled by the portrayal of Bermuda in such a way. Sen.

Lister said many small businesses were already having problems paying hospital levy and employment tax. When new pension proposals emerged, he wanted to see a scheme that would not hold them back.

Turning to the new prison, he objected to it being called the "West End correctional facility''.

He understood it had not been put forward by prison officers as claimed by the Health Minister.

The West End community did not like the name because it reflected on the West End school.

Sen. Grant Gibbons (UBP) said small firms had been given a break on employment tax in the last Budget. Government was trying to stimulate them.

He praised a programme where private school students ran their own companies, and said there were plans to have it in Government schools.

On the US newspaper editorial, he said there should be no surprise about it.

The PLP had invited Mr. Pindling to the Island and it was "almost natural'' for the association to be made.

"I thought you were above that,'' said Sen. Lister .

Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) said both parties should condemn the editorial and not keep "jibing'' and "jousting''.

Sen.Butterfield , PLP Senate education spokeswoman, accused Government of breaking a promise made in August to appoint principals at Dellwood primary school and Port Royal school by January.

Sen. Simons said because the schools were running well under acting principals, it had now been decided not to cause disruption during the school year.

It was hoped to fill the two positions on September 1, 1994.

Sen. Butterfield also asked if Government was considering helping students at the University of the West Indies with their fees. Sen. Simons said he would have an answer in the new year.

She also asked if students in the US would be offered a "fee differential'' subsidy as students in the UK did, to help them cope with the overseas differential added to their fees.

Sen. Simons said the UK contributed to the differential on fees paid by Bermudians at British universities. No similar help had been offered by the US, so a similar scheme for students in the US was not planned. But students in the US were eligible to participate in the further education award and student loan schemes, not normally used by students in the UK.

Sen. Lister called for students in work-study programmes to get more help from Government in getting jobs. Dalhousie students were having particular problems, he said.

Sen. Simons said he was not aware of such a problem. But better relations were being developed between Education and businesses. The Ministry was now better staffed to deal with such things.

Sen. Neletha Butterfield