population according to the Opposition's spokesman in the Senate.

Sen. Ira Philip said that the fishing industry and qualified Bermudian architects are just two of the areas being hit by the Government's policies on the Environment.

And Mr. Philip said he feared for the man in the street if professionals were being affected by the policies.

But the Government's position was defended by their Senate representative Sen.

Wendell Hollis who attacked the PLP for what he said is a lack of concern for the environment in their policies.

Sen. Hollis said: "The environment is the most important thing that this country, and this world, has to protect. If the environment falls by the wayside, so does the rest of humankind.'' Earlier Sen. Philip had accused the Ministry of only being interested in receiving accolades for achievements that seemed spectacular in environmental sphere.

He accused them of not being interested in the basic and fundamental matters that concerned Bermudians.

Sen. Philip was particularly concerned about "extraordinary concessions'' he claimed had been made to allow the British fishing vessel, from the Ignis Foods company, to fish in Bermudian waters.

He said: "We are concerned that the Government has endorsed this intrusion into our local waters. And it must be viewed in the light of the fishpot ban.

It is grievous and injurious to commercial fishing industry.

"We should be concerned about any interlopers operating our 75-mile exclusion zone.'' Sen. Philip said Bermudians should have been trained to carry out the "exploration and research'' away from regular fishing areas.

He also complained that local architects were also being hampered by tough rules and regulations.

He said: "If the UBP Government is prepared to cut out Bermudians at the professional level what do you think is going to happen to the ordinary man in the street.'' Sen. Hollis said that Ignis was footing the bill for exploration and research which will benefit Bermudian fishermen in the future.

The Government spokesman said: "The Government is trying to make the local fishing industry viable. If the PLP was in charge, the fishing industry would be stillborn.

"I cannot think of a better initiative to get the industry underway again. It is costing us nothing.'' Earlier Sen. Hollis had pointed out how apt it was that the "green'' ministry was to be debated on St. Patrick's Day.

He said that despite the Ministry's high profile it had one of the smallest budgets and had seen the smallest increase over the past decade. He praised the work of the Biological Station for Research and the Aquarium which he said were envied over the world.

The Bermuda Plan has received a total of 1,158 objections, of which 250 had been resolved by February. Sen. Hollis said: "The Department projects that 60 to 70 percent of objections will be resolved and others will go to a tribunal.'' He also commended Bermuda's Historical Building Committee which he believes will prove advantageous to owners of properties with historic value. Despite some worries by the owners, "listed'' buildings are recognised all over the world as being of value.

Coming from a farming background Sen. Hollis praised the way that the Island has moved from being an agricultural community by training its residents.

Only one percent of the total population of the Island are now involved in farming.

Mentioning the Land Valuation Department, which sets the AVR on local properties, Sen. Hollis said that the estimated expenditure this year would be $389,000, a two percent decrease on 1992, but the revenue earned would be in excess of $20 million.