been denied by the Government.

Bermudian leaders have had no information from the White House to indicate the closure of either the US Naval Air Station or the US Naval Annex in Southampton.

The news comes on the day that a US news broadcast may tell television viewers in the Island and the US that the Bermuda base is like a holiday camp.

Opposition leader in the Senate, Sen. Alex Scott said he believed the "Primetime Live'' programme on ZFB Channel 7 will show top officers golfing during Government time.

He feared that it would fuel fears of the removal of US forces from the Island.

Government Senate Leader, the Hon. Michael Winfield said: "Although we have recently received official word from the Canadian Government that it intends to shut its Daniel's Head facility as of December 31, 1993, Bermuda has not information, official or unofficial, which would indicate that the US Government has decided to close either of its military facilities in Bermuda.

"As we understand it, the US Government has not yet come to a conclusion on that subject.

"We are aware, however, that there have been some reductions of staff at the US Naval Annex recently, and that there is a possibility -- it can be put no higher than that -- that some of the land on that Bases future base may be returned to Bermuda at some time in the future.'' Sen. Winfield had been asked by Opposition Sen. Trevor Woolridge about plans formulated by the Government if there was a reduced or non-existent level of foreign military presence.

Sen. Winfield continued: "The US military presence here is quite substantial.

If the US decided to reduce that presence, there are a number of ways by which that end could be attained, ranging from outright closure to a reduction which would affect Bermuda almost not at all. "It will be appreciated that without rather more specific information on what is intended it is not feasible to make detailed plans.'' Sen. Winfield said that Island would not be caught unprepared and already two committees were looking at theoretical ways of dealing with such a problem if it arose.

Sen. Woolridge and Sen. Scott asked that training programmes be implemented so that if the Americans left, Bermudians could walk straight into responsibilities like air traffic control and fire fighting.

Sen. Winfield said that there had been some crossover duties with the fire department and he felt the US Government would give them ample time before making a withdrawal.