vital operations now run by the US Navy, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said.

He predicted Bermuda did not have more than three years before the US handed over responsibility for operations such as the Civil Air Terminal and emergency services.

Mr. Wade accepted that US legislators were going to satisfactorily deal with a Defence Bill clause which would effectively close the Base within 90 days of its passage.

But he did not think the Island would be granted more than two and a half to three years grace before the Base was finally shut down by the Navy.

Mr. Wade said the Premier's aim for five years transition to closure was a pipe-dream.

The party leader's comments were made as a joint Senate/House Conference in Washington was underway to thrash out a 1994 Defence Spending Bill. The Bermuda clause is among hundreds of issues the legislators must sort out before sending a final reconciled Bill back to the full Congress for passage.

Mr. Wade said he had determined before Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan launched his diplomatic push on the Bermuda base that the US State Department was aiming to downsize the Base to 300 personnel who would work with Bermudians on a transition to closure.