handout for unfair dismissal has been closed.

Senators approved a new law which takes the power to vary staffing levels in 15 Government departments out of the hands of politicians and give it to Governor Thorold Masefield.

Opposition Senators backed the move, describing it as a clean-up of "sloppy practices.'' But Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott said described the change -- which will bring 15 departments, including the Police Service, into line with 45 other Government departments -- as a "retrogressive step.'' He added: "Either Government wants to run the Country itself or it wants to go back to the colonial past.'' PLP Sen. Terry Lister , however, said: "It will clean up some sloppy practices and put things in order.

"That being the case, we have to support it -- but Government has been very sloppy and now they are cleaning it up.'' Mr. Perinchief, the Assistant Police Commissioner, lost his job after ex-Commissioner Colin Coxall streamlined the force's rank structure.

But Goverment did not pass legislation to legally alter the size of the force and a court later ruled that Mr. Perinchief had been wrongfully dismissed.

Introducing the Civil Establishment Act 1998, Government Sen. Alan Marshall said that the new law would allow for the creation and abolition of Civil Service jobs.

He said increases in aircraft registration in Bermuda would mean more staff would be needed at Airport Operations.

And he added the new law would give "validate'' more than 50 teaching and Fire Service jobs already created.

Mr. Marshall said: "The purpose of this bill is to bring legislative and legal clarity to the process of establishing or abolishing posts within the Civil Service.'' Indpendent Sen. Jeanette Cannonier -- a former head of the Public Service Commission -- backed the legal move.

She added: "The Governor, I'm sure, would receive information through various channels. I'm pleased to see that someone has taken the initiative.'' The Act will now go to Governor Masefield to be signed into law.

Senate also backed buying nearly seven acres of land in Pembroke for $1.8 million from Belco Holdings -- a site earmarked for the new Berkeley Institute.

Government Senate leader E.T. (Bob) Richards said: "This is a very important part of Government's restructuring programme. There are very major plans afoot for Berkeley in this respect.'' The Haven -- a charity dealing with young women with social problems -- will be razed as part of the school redevelopment.

But Sen. Lawrence Scott said Government would do everything it could to assist the group to find a new base.

Also backed was Government's purchase of more than 18 acres of land at Abbott's Cliff in Hamilton Parish for $1.6 million.

Sen. Richards said the buy was to protect an area of natural beauty.

He added: "The acquisition enables us to make sure this land will remain open for generations to come.''