Government will set aside $1 million to celebrate the Millennium -- but MPs were divided on how the money should be spent when they met on Friday.

The House of Assembly passed the Millennium Fund Act on Friday which created a Millennium Fund and commitee.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said the committee would "find ways to celebrate the development of our Country and to recognise all the positive things that have been achieved''.

He said Government would be putting up $1 million for various projects but hoped additional funds would come from private enterprise.

While there was general support for the fund, there was some dispute as to how the money should be spent.

And some warned that any committee would have to represent all sections of the community in order for all projects to get a fair hearing.

"I applaud the fact that the Government is bringing about a Millennium Fund,'' Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb said. "The objective of the fund is to insure that there are projects and events to celebrate the bringing in of a new Century.

"We would like to see a monument of sorts to recognise our heroes in Bermuda.

"Another suggestion is a millennium cultural centre. Our culture needs to be recognised and we would agree to see a millennium multi purpose centre.'' Paula Cox (PLP) said: "We must make sure that it is a democratically based committee. What we are talking about is trying to bridge the gap and bring people together. This is a wonderful opportunity and we must not squander it.'' But Dennis Lister (PLP) argued that the cash could be put to a more practical use in solving some of the Island's social problems such as housing.

He was backed by Shadow Housing Minister Stanley Morton .

"I am not one to idolise and worship some statue,'' he said. "We should do something that contributes to the real lives of people at this time. Housing deals with people and deals with life. If you put up a monument and people can't afford to buy food or pay for their rent, where are you going to get the support?'' But Tourism Minister David Dodwell said: "Housing is a topical issue. It's not what the Millennium is all about. This country was made on meeting its challenges and succeeding. We have got to recognise what we have been through.'' Mr. Dodwell suggested that heroes should be celebrated generally rather than acknowledging specific figures in the Island's history.

"We should recognise people in general, such as youth or the family, and we have to build something that will stand the test of time,'' he said.

John Barritt (UBP) suggested the money could be used to invest in the Internet.

"In selecting a monument we have to be careful in not creating a white elephant,'' he said. "What we regard today may be obsolete in the future. We all know of the technological revolution, we may consider improving the information superhighway.''