legislation.

And Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) threatened to boycott tomorrow's sitting of the Senate in protest at having to rush through important legislation which was only tabled in the upper house yesterday.

The outburst came after the Senate moved to adjourn the Senate until Friday.

Sen. Lister said: "It's totally inappropriate to give us these bills on Wednesday and expect us to debate them on Friday.'' But Government Leader in the Senate, Lynda Milligan-Whyte defused the tension, by proposing to add another sitting next Wednesday as well.

Among the five bills tabled at yesterday's meeting were the new Education Act, promising major change in the schools system and the Telecommunications Amendment Act to open up the Island's communications system to competition.

Also brought before the Senate were the Companies Amendment Act, which changes the rules for exempted companies and making company officers and auditors proportionately liable for for damages instead of equally liable -- except in cases of fraud and dishonesty.

"Apart from the Senators who present the bills, even Government Senators probably haven't seen them,'' Sen. Lister said. "I don't think we should just fall into line and pass things because it's the day to pass them.'' Sen. Lister was backed by Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP), who said Senators had to be seen as legislators, not just "a rubber stamp''.

Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) pointed out lawmakers had much longer summer holidays than the schools. He called for the Senate to extend its sitting to the end of July to deal with all the business before it.

But Sen. Yvette Swan said all the legislation had already passed through the House of Assembly, giving Senators ample time to study it.

And Sen. Milligan-Whyte said every piece of major legislation is thoroughly gone into.

She added: "To say in this House that we are a rubber stamp is a complete fabrication because Senators often bring their own perspective on some very important issues. I don't think it actually reflects what goes on in this chamber.'' Sen. Milligan-Whyte said she would relay Sen. Oughton's suggestions to Government.

And the five UBP members plus Sen. Oughton won a vote to adjourn the Senate on the basis of splitting the remaining legislation between two more sessions.