become Bermuda's latest Senator.

Mrs. Cannonier -- recently appointed to the panel assessing senior Police officers for top command posts -- will replace outgoing Senate President Albert Jackson as one of three Independent Members of the Upper House next Wednesday.

The new Senate appointment, who lives in Warwick, could not be contacted for comment last night.

Current Senate Vice President Alf Oughton appears to be the front-runner to be voted in as President on the same day.

Sen. Oughton's job could be taken by the other Independent, Sen. Walwyn Hughes.

News of Mrs. Cannonier's appointment by Governor Thorold Masefield came just hours after Senate President Albert Jackson officially announced he is to quit his seat in the Upper House.

Sen. Jackson -- in a move revealed in The Royal Gazette on Monday -- told fellow Senators yesterday would be his last session.

And last night colleagues in the Upper House queued up to pay an emotional tribute to the man who steered debate in Senate for more than a decade.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott congratulated Sen. Jackson on his Senate service and said few people realised what sacrifices had to be made for public service.

"It is extremely difficult to get an independent president and Bermuda owes you a debt of gratitude for that,'' he said.

Senate president praised you all the best in your retirement.'' Government Senate Leader E.T. Bob Richards added his praise for the years of good service given by Sen. Jackson and wished him well in his retirement.

"It has been a great privilege to have been in the Senate with you. The thing you have brought to the chamber is dignity. It is up to us to let people know what a great Bermudian you are.'' Sen. Oughton said one of Sen. Jackson's greatest attributes was the impact he had on the individual and how that helped them perform.

Government Sen. Larry Scott said he found it hard to accept that he would no longer be in the Senate.

"I wish he hadn't made the decision,'' he said. "I hope we can follow your example -- you are one of my icons.'' At the start of yesterday's business, Sen. Jackson, 78, said that Constitutionally, retirement could be signalled by personal statement in the chamber or by letter.

He added: "On this occasion, I would like to take advantage of the first feature of that clause in order to formally announce to this Chamber that I intend to retire from Senate at the close of this meeting.'' Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott asked if tributes could be paid immediately, or be held over to the end of the session.

But Sen. Jackson stuck to business right up to the end of his tenure in the Senate hotseat.

He said: "It would be my preference to allow the announcement to stand to allow Senate to proceed with the business as stated in the Orders of the Day.'' As official business finished yesterday and tributes were heaped on Sen.

Jackson, he kept strict order before his final statement.

Fighting back the tears, he said he hoped some of the good things said about him were true.

"In the chamber, the faces have changed but the spirit is the same,'' he said. "We are all committed to the betterment of Bermuda. It is beautiful and I have a great deal of faith in the people who live in it.'' And he concluded that one objective of the Senate that had remained was the stability of Bermuda.

Sen. Jackson was appointed to Senate in 1985, becoming President in 1987 after the late Hugh Richardson stood down.

The former school principal -- who spent almost three decades in education -- also held a senior Education Ministry post.

In 1978, he became Bank of Bermuda staff training officer and he has also held a host of public posts, including the chairmanship of the Human Rights Commission and the Bermuda Nursing Council.

PRAISED -- Sen. Albert Jackson