Shadow Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams said Government was guilty of drastic under-funding.

He was particularly scornful of the $998,000 slice of the Budget for the libraries.

And he called for more funding for The Bermuda Maritime Museum and St.

George's Historical Society.

The grant for the St. George's Preservation Authority should also be reinstated, he added. Government showed an "abysmal'' lack of support for the whole Ministry.

Mr. Williams heaped praise on the Ministry's staff.

Earlier, however, Community and Cultural Affairs Minister the Hon. Wayne Furbert reaffirmed Government's commitment to his portfolio.

He said the Ministry touched many lives and went to the very soul of people.

Mr. Furbert read out to MPs the Budget estimates for his Ministry.

The overall estimate for 1994/95 was $3.3 million -- a one percent rise on last year.

Mr. Furbert said the Bermuda library's estimate was $998,000.

The library had 22 full-time staff, all Bermudians. They included eight professional librarians, 13 assistants, and one secretary.

He pointed out the mobile library had been introduced in 1993/94, and was proving popular.

Mr. Furbert said the Budget allocation for the Archives department was $337,000.

The department had six people, two professionals, two semi-professionals, and two clerks. All, he believed, were Bermudian.

Accomplishments over the last year included doubling the size of the research room.

Among the goals were creating a record storage building, and working to acquire records from the private sector.

Mr. Furbert turned to Community Services, for which the estimate was $825,000.

This was down on the $913,000 of 1993/94 because the Human Rights section had been transferred.

The Small Business Development Corporation was apportioned $209,000 -- compared to $200,000 for 1993/94.

Mr. Furbert stressed the Corporation offered a launch-pad to entrepreneurs meeting the challenges of the recession.

They were able to receive loans, thanks to the Corporation.

On Cultural Affairs, Mr. Furbert outlined the many achievements of the department.

He said the department had organised workshops for budding playwrights and novelists.

A book on Bermuda written by young people was also planned.

Shadow Environment Minister the Rev. Trevor Woolridge backed Mr. Williams, saying the United Bermuda Party over the last 30 years had failed to support local talent.

He said culture was a way of bringing the races together -- black, white, and Portuguese. Ministry of Community And Cultural Affairs 1994/95 estimates Ministry role: "To promote and enhance community relations, support community activities, administer the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation Act 1980, promote Bermuda's cultural heritage, support the community as a whole with a modern library and to collect and preserve archival material.'' Budget estimate $3,300,000 (last year $3,168,000) Budget allocation Libraries $998,000 Archives $337,000 Community Services $825,000 Small Business Development Corporation $209,000 Cultural Affairs $932,000.