in Bermuda.

But Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul said that millions of dollars have been spent in job promotion and social assistance programmes.

He said that he was confident that the careful management of the economy would continue to see the Island through the worst effects of the recession.

After recommendations from a Cabinet committee, dealing with the effects of the slump since 1991, measures were implemented including the spending of $1.25 million on job promotion projects and tighter controls on work permits.

The committee, made up of a number of ministers, looked at how Government could get directly involved in riding the recession and what the private sector could do.

Dr. Saul said: "These efforts have resulted in employment for as many as 100 persons on special projects, including park and roadside clean-ups, roadside fence building and repair and demolition work.

"A substantial amount of money has been diverted to small contractors to undertake Government projects.

"Major capital works being funded by the Government, including the new prison and the incinerator, have generated employment for as many as 200 Bermudians.'' Dr. Saul said that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has kept abreast of statistics on unemployment and work permits and has conducted two Island-wide surveys on unemployment.

In addition the Ministry, through the Employees Assistance Programme, has instituted a pilot scheme to help people who were considered chronically unemployable.

Government, he said, had also extended nearly $1.3 million in customs duty relief since 1991 to the ailing hotel industry. It is expected that relief will be continued through to November at least.

Courses in catering were set up at the Bermuda College and, of the 20 people participating, 15 were placed in jobs in the catering industry. The Minister added: "The Government has also provided more than $6 million through the Social Assistance Programme in support of persons unable to meet living expenses.

"A further $3.5 million has been made available for rent support through the Housing Allowance Programme (HAP).'' Almost 800 households were helped through HAP assistance while 1,000 received direct social assistance.

"The Government has had outstanding co-operation from the Chamber of Commerce in organising seminars and producing brochures on budgeting and money management and the local media has assisted by publicising these activities.'' Dr. Saul said that the committee would continue to meet regularly to evaluate the state of the economy and devise additional strategies for managing the Island's financial position during the coming 12 months as the US slowly recovers from the deepest recession in decades.