The West End Development Company is preparing to spend $2 million of its own money to extend the Clock Tower building in Dockyard.

Development and Opportunities Minister Terry Lister yesterday said the westward extension would create 7,000 feet of retail and office space.

He praised past Wedco efforts to encourage locals and visitors into the west end through trade shows and special events.

But he also said the Dockyard community had "real fears and concerns'' about a twin-port system in which cruise ships moored in west the end and then moved to Hamilton on their last night.

According to a study, 60 percent of sales to cruise ship passengers occurred on their last day.

As a result, Mr. Lister said the upcoming year would prove especially difficult for west end retailers.

However, he went on to say Tourism Minister David Allen's announcement of weekend ships dedicated to Dockyard would benefit the area immensely.

Other plans for Dockyard include a child's playground and Mr. Lister said he hoped a better use of existing ferries and the arrival of fast ferries would lead more businesses to the area.

In other matters, Mr. Lister said legislation amendments to strengthen the Human Rights Commission, the Committee for Unity and Reconciliation, and the Consumer Affairs Bureau were primary concerns for Government.

Chief discrimination complaints to the HRC included those based on pregnancy, race, sex, and sexual harassment concerns.

And Mr. Lister explained the budget for the Consumer Affairs Bureau would show a significant jump as the staff increased from one to three people.

Last year a single woman handled 4,100 complaints primarily about poor tradesmen, retail outlets, and landlords and/or tenants.

In the future Mr. Lister said the Bureau would develop a marketing plan to educate the public of their rights.

Mr. Lister went on to highlight Management Services' recent involvement in the Emergency Dispatch System.

And reviews are also planned for a number of Ministries including the Education, Community and Cultural Affairs, and Tourism.

Mr. Lister said the department was also overseeing the implementation of the Criminal Justice Information system which would improve court administration and eliminate overcrowding problems.

The Government Archives, which are currently housed in the Ministry of Works and Engineering space, may soon be moving into a new office space, he also disclosed.

Last year a number of organisations donated documents to the archives and Mr.

Lister encouraged other members of the public to do the same.

In regard to Personnel Services, which is responsible for policies to ensure present and future Government workers are qualified and motivated, Mr. Lister said motivation was a crucial aspect.

Some $4 million had been set aside for the department and Mr. Lister said it was important to develop the management potential within the public service.

And Government had identified 41 positions currently held by non-Bermudians for which it hoped to eventually train local workers.

In the area of Community Affairs, Mr. Lister said Government would develop additional community programmes and planned to upgrade long serving part-time workers to full-time positions.

Mr. Lister said he hoped to see a lot more activity within the Small Business Development Corporation, but he urged entrepreneurs to "do the groundwork themselves'' before contacting the BDC.

Last year the BDC issued nine guarantees for a total of $172,000 and recorded five losses totaling $109,000.

A jump in the travel budget for Information Services from $18,000 to $38,000 was attributed to the necessary promotion of the Bermuda leg of the Tall Ships 2000 race.

Mr. Lister hailed the past achievement of the Cultural Affairs department and said Government was looking forward to combining the Portuguese community's celebration of 150 years in Bermuda with other heritage celebrations.

Cultural Affairs will also continue to focus on the arts and plans to foster creative writing and establish a national youth choir.

Shadow Minister Allen Marshall , while lamenting he only had 20 minutes to respond to Mr. Lister's two-hour-and-40-minute speech, said 99 percent of the programmes and policies outlined began under the United Bermuda Party Government.

But he pointed out the Ministry showed a greater budget increase than any other.

And he said taxpayers were looking for "value for money'' and questioned whether or not Government would implement measurement schemes to monitor the success of the programmes.

Ministry of Development Opportunity and Government Services 1999/00 estimates Ministry responsibility: To advise on the formulation and implementation of policy, to provide central direction, management co-ordination of services and activities within the Ministry.

Budget estimate: $14,258,000 (last year $12,859,000) Revenue: $327,000 Budget allocations Management Services $911,000 Archives $439,000 Personnel Services $4,091,000 Community Affairs $1,248,000 Small Business Development Co. $460,000 Government Information Services $1,134,000 Cultural Affairs $1,595,000 Human Affairs $4,380,000 Terry Lister