the freeing of slaves in Bermuda.

Senate approved an amendment to the original wording of the Public Holidays Amendment Act 1999, putting Cup Match back on a legal footing -- a turnaround on a decision by the House of Assembly.

Government Senate Leader Milton Scott said after tabling a further amendment: "Both of the days will now be considered Cup Match.'' The move came after a row in the House, where Opposition MPs accused Government of diluting the annual Cup Match celebration by leaving out its name in an amendment to create an official Emancipation Day.

Sen. Scott admitted: "What was proposed was not drafted correctly. What we have come back with now is an amendment to the principal bill and should take into consideration concerns raised by the Opposition and others as well.'' The new amendment changed the amendment Act passed by the House by adding "which last two days shall together be known as Cup Match''.

And last night Opposition Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt -- whose amendment in the House to keep the Cup Match name was voted down -- said Government had been caught out by "partisan politics''.

He said: "They clearly just didn't like the idea of an Opposition member making the change.

"I think the general public will recognise exactly what went on. I had it right and Government has accepted that position.

"That was the whole purpose of my amendment. It's a very slight deviation from what I proposed. The right decision has been made, it's just a shame we had to go all the way to Senate to do it.'' He was backed by Opposition Sen. Mark Pettingill , who said afterwards that the Opposition had taken an "almost identical'' amendment into yesterday's session.

He said: "They sought to amend because they heard the public outcry on it and common sense prevailed. It's unfortunate it didn't prevail in the House of Assembly.'' Earlier, Sen. Pettingill said Emancipation Day was "a recognition of the black struggle'' as well as "white recognition of the past'' and an opportunity to resolve to move on.

He said: "There is no question that Emancipation Day is a wonderful idea and Government should be commended.

"It's a celebration for all Bermudians, black and white, about how far we've come together -- and how far we have to go.'' Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes pointed out that, although the schedule of the original 1947 Act was changed by the first amendment, the term "Cup Match'' was still in the main Act.

Sen. Hughes said: "It's the best of both worlds. It perpetuates Cup Match, but also gives proper importance to emancipation.

"It's a good example of how Senate should work. We can make improvements in legislation through cooperation. It's a good amendment and well worth supporting.'' The new measure will now go back to the House of Assembly for approval by MPs before being signed into law.

Government pledged in its Throne Speech to mark the August 1, 1834, emancipation of slaves across the former British Empire by renaming one of the two days of the summer holiday cricket match between teams from Somerset and St. George's.

The two days of Cup Match were officially Cup Match Day and Somers Day -- after the English sailor who claimed Bermuda for the Crown in 1609.

Cup Match -- which started at the turn of the century -- was born out of an unofficial celebration of emancipation.

The House approved changing Cup Match Day to Emancipation Day and retaining the Somers Day name.

But MPs rejected a move by Mr. Barritt to insert the phrase "Emancipation Day and Somers Day shall together also be known as the Cup Match holiday''.