because it can no longer be opened, the House of Assembly was told on Wednesday.

Sandys South MP Walter Roberts (PLP), speaking during the Throne Speech debate, also joined his PLP colleague Leon (Jimmy) Williams in warning that if there was ever a calamity in the East End and Longbird Bridge was stuck, Bermuda would be in trouble.

And he said he backed the idea of developing eco-tourism at Daniel's Head as long as the people of Bermuda could take advantage of the site and any developments there as well.

Minister of Youth and Sport Tim Smith said the Throne Speech had three major themes: Government had a plan of action for the future that was based on the solid foundation it had already created; innovative thinking was key; and partnerships between Government, businesses and the individual, which would create responsibility, were necessary.

The Progressive Labour Party often accused the Government of stealing its ideas but it actually embraced ideas, no matter where they came from, said Mr.

Smith.

He noted that there were several Government ideas which never came from the PLP including: the construction of CedarBridge Academy; contributory pensions; the national scholarship programme; deregulating telecommunications; the fish pot ban; developing an after school programme; and moving Parks from Works and Engineering to the Youth Development Ministry.

The latter was a classic example of innovative thinking, he stressed.

Bermuda's park system embraced the Island's culture, history, beauty and nature so by moving it to the Youth Development Ministry meant Government had increased its ability to get young people to take advantage of them.

Mr. Smith noted that the 834 acres of parks also highlighted Government's commitment to conservation.

Other initiatives the department planned to launch were teaming up with the National Trust at Springfield. The department would enter a 99-year lease and maintain the property while making it the permanent location for a Somerset community centre.

To emphasise the theme of shared responsibility, Mr. Smith drew attention to the drug free sport policy.

This was a "significant'' and "remarkable'' achievement which was one solution to the complex problem of drug abuse. It was built around the principles of drug intervention and drug prevention and would create an aura of zero tolerance within sport.

Opposition House Leader Reginald Burrows welcomed the drug free sport policy as a step in the right direction but noted it did not take alcohol into account.

"Until the people in positions of responsibility can be seen to be trying to do something about eliminating the problem of alcohol abuse, we are never going to be able to solve problems with illicit drugs,'' he said.

And he said he would have thought the problem of racial discrimination in Bermuda would have been eliminated by 1997. "How long are we going to allow racial discrimination to be the scourge of our society?'' Turning to tourism, the MP said one problem causing the downturn in visitor arrivals was the expense of a vacation to the Island.

At one time, he noted, countries had come to Bermuda to find out what they should do to boost their tourism but "the shoe is on the other foot'' now.

He suggested that Government try to get more value from the money it spent overseas.

Michael Dunkley (UBP) defended his party's record on Bermudianisation but insisted that if, for example, hoteliers wanted to employ foreign expertise to run hotels, it should be up to them.

"We must let these businesses flourish with the people they feel comfortable with,'' he said. "They also create jobs for hundreds of Bermudians. Isn't it best to protect their investment and our investment rather than have someone unqualified just to please a few people?'' He went on to say that Bermuda had been dealt "a pretty good hand'' but added that "marketing is not our problem. Our problem is the product that we are selling.

"Visitors are not receiving value for money which will prohibit them from saying anything positive about Bermuda.'' Shadow Youth Development Minister Nelson Bascome was perhaps unique amongst Wednesday's speakers in presenting a conciliatory address.

"We talk about individuals being attacked and sometimes it does get personal,'' he said. "But we are all Bermudians in this chamber and we are all here to represent the people of Bermuda.

"I urge all members that in these times our people need leadership and they need to know that they can come to our leaders who will deal with the issues.

The time for personalising politics is long gone.'' But the olive branch was not accepted by Public Safety Minister Mr. Quinton Edness who, after complimenting Mr. Bascome for his speech, proceeded to rip into the Opposition's reply to the Throne Speech.

He ridiculed Opposition members for failing to come up with alternative policies to the Throne Speech which, he claimed, was a document of "confidence and vision''.

He noted that the Police Reserves were better equipped, better trained and playing a bigger role helping the Police.

Extensive renovations had been completed at Somerset Police Station and Government was committed to matching public funds toward closed circuit television installation in Hamilton.

"It is facetious to say that nothing has happened since the last Throne Speech was issued,'' said Mr. Edness.

He then moved to the issue of long-term residents which he said had attracted a lot of "unfair'' and "unwarranted'' comments from the Opposition.

"The PLP say they would have dealt with it last year. If they did they would have blatantly ignored the people's views. The UBP produced a Green Paper so everyone could see what the issues were and comment on them. The PLP would have imposed something without listening to the people of the Country.'' Shadow Minister for Technology Walter Lister said the PLP was fortunate because it was the minority which shared Mr. Edness' opinion.

He slammed plans to make new cycle licence holders wait six months before they were able to tow someone. "This is legislation designed purely to infuriate young people,'' he said.

Shadow Transport Minister Dennis Lister said he was concerned that people might be getting put on the stop list for travelling to the US simply because their name had appeared in court information in The Royal Gazette .