Gibbons got tough with his opposite number.

And Dr. Gibbons accused PLP Finance spokesman Eugene Cox of failing to understand the importance of talks with top American politicians on the ex-US Navy installations on the Island -- which will cost an estimated $55 million clean up.

Dr. Gibbons said: "Mr. Cox felt it necessary to criticise the Premier and myself for undertaking the business of the people during our recent trip to Washington.'' And he claimed that Mr. Cox "chose to question whether there was even waste to clean up''.

Dr. Gibbons said: "There was clearly waste at the UK and Canadian bases which is being cleaned up. HMS Malabar was cleaned up because of our persistence.

There is clearly waste at the US base, including oil and asbestos. There is no disputing this fact.'' Dr. Gibbons hit back after Mr. Cox took aim at the UBP's negotiations with the US and its trips to Washington to meet Sen. Warner, the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which controls the purse strings for massive sums of military money.

He said he respected Mr. Cox for his contributions to the PLP over the years.

But he added: "I cannot let stand the confusing, out-of-date and just plain wrong comments that this elder of the PLP keeps repeating.'' And he said: "Once again, Mr. Cox and the PLP chose to criticise while they continue to have no plan of their own.

"Their continuing lack of understanding that often Bermuda's only weapon is vision, knowledge and persistence is disheartening.'' Mr. Cox went on the offensive after Government hailed an agreement between America and Canada -- which had two US bases leased under the same Second World War agreement as Bermuda -- to pay for environmental work.

The Canadians won a $100 million payoff from the US -- a deal which Bermuda maintains strengthens its case for compensation to improve the ex-US Naval Air Station in St. David's and Southampton's old Naval Annex.

But Dr. Gibbons said: "I cannot understand why the PLP do not understand the importance of these types of meetings.

"Choosing our time, waiting for precedents such as the Canadian agreement to be settled, knowing when and where to strike on Bermuda's behalf -- this is not only how Bermuda survives, but how it prospers.'' And Dr. Gibbons appealed to voters not be influenced by "those who try to cloud the real issues for their own purposes.'' Dr. Gibbons insisted: "Our future, our success, our prosperity, they are all directly linked to the outside world which we must understand and make work for us.

"We have to be very clever and well-prepared to negotiate with countries much stronger than ours. Uninformed statements will not get a result.'' He added: "We must continue to diversify our economy, be ready for opportunities and continue to manage our way through a turbulent global economy.'' MILITARY MIL