deal with troubled Bermuda Forwarders -- and jeopardising a settlement.

And Government has also been rapped for failing to appear a "neutral umpire'' in the dispute.

The double-barrelled attack was launched yesterday by Opposition Senate leader Sen. Alex Scott .

"The Opposition felt betrayed,'' he said shortly before the Senate passed the new Trade Disputes Act.

Sen. Scott claimed Mr. Pearman had talks with Bermuda Forwarders' lawyer Mr.

Alan Dunch about the new act before it was discussed by Parliament.

He alleged a "deal'' was struck in which Mr. Dunch was assured the new legislation would not affect the dispute.

The Act will give the Minister powers to set up a tribunal -- with legally binding decisions -- to settle labour problems.

Sen. Scott said his claims stemmed from a televised Press conference with Mr.

Dunch.

"Mr. Dunch has every right to do what he did...a lawyer is acting in the interest of his client. We are acting in the interests of the country.'' Earlier, however, Government Senate leader the Hon. Michael Winfield dismissed as a "red herring'' suggestions of a deal.

"That is categorically untrue,'' he said.

He added Mr. Pearman told Bermuda Forwarders and the Bermuda Industrial Union legislation was coming through.

"I believe the Minister said that if the dispute was resolved then there would be no need for binding arbitration.

"That is the situation today. There has been no resolution to the dispute.'' In presenting the new legislation, Sen. Winfield applauded the support shown for it in principle by the three major parties.

"I think it is a positive sign that when the chips are down for this country the three parties do what is best for Bermuda.'' The purpose of the new act was to provide a vehicle to which a seemingly intractable dispute can be referred, and avoid embroiling the country in it.

Sen. Scott said the Progressive Labour Party had tried to act as an honest broker in the dispute.

Government, however, became involved by slapping an injunction on the union.

"I would like to point out that Government's attempts to carry out its duties as a neutral umpire were somewhat hamstrung when the the Premier said the union only had itself to blame for management actions. That handicaps the role of Government.'' Sen. Scott went on to accuse Bermuda Forwarders of a "clever legal manoeuvre'' by launching a new court action against the BIU.

The firm wants the courts to decide whether the 15 former truckers ended their own jobs by walking out last year in support of a fired shop steward.

Sen. Scott said new legislation should be passed with the greatest urgency.

It was of "dire importance'' for Government to use the act, and allow nothing to stand in its way.

Sen. Scott also criticised media coverage of the dispute.

The media had helped firmly imprint the labour dispute on tourists' minds by asking for their reactions.

"Many tourists said they were more affected by the rain. We shouldn't try putting a notion into their minds. It can only exacerbate the problem.'' Sen. Joe Johnson (Ind.) warned about Bermuda's historical tendency to sit back and breathe a sigh of relief after a crisis -- and then do nothing. It should now press full steam ahead with the legislation, and also reconstitute the Labour Advisory Council.

The Hon. Max Burgess (UBP) said he backed Government moves for a more comprehensive review of its labour legislation.

He added he understood Mr. Pearman was looking at foreign legislation, and seeing if any of it could be applied in Bermuda.

Sen. Burgess backed concern over media coverage, saying: "It is one thing to cause an injury, it's another to tell everybody about it.'' He warned about the Island "shooting itself in the foot.'' Senate vice president Sen. Norma Astwood spoke of the need to repair a "tremendous'' breakdown of trust between management and union camps.

The dispute was reminiscent of the '50s and '60s when frustrated workers took to the streets.

Sen. Jerome Dill (UBP) said Bermuda has been "perniciously and precariously perched on a perfidious precipice.'' Hon. Irving Pearman.