An Opposition Senator yesterday banged the drum for women's rights.

"Working women are walking a tightrope with little or no safety net,'' said Sen. Neletha (Honey) Butterfield adding that legislation was needed to protect them.

She called for: A redoubling of efforts to promote women at work and make them part of the "decision-making process'; More information on women's issues to be distributed; and Child-care programmes to be made more "accessible'' to women on low-wages, and those who find work hours too inflexible.

"Women's issues are very deep,'' she said during the resumption of the Senate debate on the Throne Speech.

"Women continue to hold down jobs, and care for young children, as well as sick and elderly family members,'' said Sen. Butterfield, adding that women often received little praise for carrying out their responsibilities in the home.

"They are household managers and today we must be able to network and share some of their skills.

"We see them in vast numbers in the banks, but very low down in the decision-making level.'' In Helsinki, said Sen. Butterfield, women were paid to stay at home, looking after children.

Turning to training, Sen. Butterfield stressed more should be done for women's advancement at work through the creation of equal opportunities.

"Working women care about the social, economic wellbeing of their families.'' Sen. Butterfield called for more action, and less advice, on women's issues.

Women seeking help often went to the Women's Advisory Council, only to receive advice about to whom they could turn, she said.

She hoped the new Task Force on Women would take an "active'' approach.

Concluding, Sen. Butterfield said: "The glass ceiling is real and even though we have made some progress we are a long way from shattering it.'' Senate President Albert Jackson (Ind) said he had compared the 1995 Throne Speech with those of previous years.

"In the 1995 speech I was able to identify 13 items indicated by Government as matters of urgency to be considered during this Parliamentary year.

"Of those I was only able to identify two items -- the policy on pensions and return of the Base lands -- as new items.

"The others -- drugs, crime, education, labour relations, protection of the environment, tourism, international business, concern for the elderly -- we have been talking about for the last 10 years.

"It is understandable that several of these are concerns which persist and demand the attention and intervention of Government.'' Sen. Jackson hoped that real progress will be made on those issues still on the agenda.

"But progress can only be made if we as legislators apply ourselves diligently to the resolution of these matters.'' Sen. Jackson voiced disappointment no mention was made in the Throne Speech about the need for the Opposition to work closer with Government.

Such a working relationship was important, he said, to provide an "easy interchange of ideas from both sides of the political fence and to facilitate any movement that may occur when there may come a change of Government''.

Now was the time to prepare for that possible change.

"Because no matter who governs, the fate of the entire Country is at stake.'' Sen. Jackson went on to pay tribute to former Premier Sir John Swan .

"It would be amiss if we as members of the Upper House did not recognise that the outgoing Premier did serve for 13 years establishing a new record for longevity in the Premiership.

"Maybe the record will be broken in time or it may never be broken.'' Sen. Jackson said Bermuda had enjoyed a period of growth during the Swan years. And he praised Sir John for promoting the interests of Bermuda for the benefit of all Bermudians.

Sen. Jackson also offered best wishes to Sir John's successor, Dr. David Saul .

Wrapping up the Throne Speech debate, United Bermuda Party Senate Leader Lynda Milligan-Whyte sought to address concerns raised by Senators. In doing so, she argued the case for Government's drug offensive, saying education and prevention were working hand in hand.

She also touched on education, saying money would go into retraining teachers.

And she commended the Task Force on Women, emphasising it would be examining the problem of sexual assaults.

"We are looking at prevention as well as sentencing.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte said the impact of Airport duty free shops on local merchants was also a matter for review.

"The Transport Minister is looking at a programme to upgrade our Airport and bring it into line with international standards.'' But, said Sen.

Milligan-Whyte, this was not being done in isolation, pointing out a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce was planned.

Addressing another concern, Sen. Milligan-Whyte said Government intended including computer training in the education system's core curriculum.

It was the aim to make every student graduate from high schools computer literate.

This was crucial if Bermuda was to compete in the international market place.