capital purchases, says Finance Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons.

Capital expenses -- like outfitting a new weather office and buying new fire trucks -- have reached about $5 million, Dr. Gibbons said.

That puts the total amount spent at about $10 million.

Multi-year contracts have been signed which will push the total much higher, but Dr. Gibbons was reporting on money spent to date.

Other Ministries have also incurred costs, though mainly through manpower seconded to the Base, said transition manager Mr. Ken Stubbings.

An exception is the Ministry of Works & Engineering, which has had $500,000 budgeted to provide security at the US Naval Annex and at the former Canadian Forces Station, Daniel's Head.

Initially, $2 million was put aside for the Bases Transition Office in December of 1993.

"Whenever you deal with a project of this size, part of the challenge is always dealing with things that come right out of the blue,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

For instance, Government did not anticipate the major upgrade that was required to the electrical system at the US Naval Air Station, he said. That cost more than $1 million.

Last week, Dr. Gibbons succeeded Premier the Hon. David Saul as Finance Minister, while retaining major responsibilities for the Bases takeover. Until then, he had handled the Bases as Minister of Management and Technology.

Dr. Gibbons' new role has raised concerns about a Finance Minister being responsible for a department experiencing major unbudgeted and sometimes unexpected expenses.

"One would hope that people would feel I'm responsible in that,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

He noted that his officials had expressed concerns that with him as Finance Minister, money would be tougher to pry loose for the Bases, not easier.

"I would be advocating, obviously, in a responsible sort of way, as full funding as we were able to get.'' But he would also be having to "keep a tight rein on expenses,'' he said. Dr.

Gibbons said much of the Base spending was approved before he became Finance Minister. Also, the Premier, other Ministers, and the Attorney General's Chambers would "all be keeping a very close watch as to how this proceeds, it goes across so many Ministries.''