once scheduled for the wrecker's ball, it was revealed yesterday.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson said Masterworks would "provide the materials'' to renovate the building and relocate from Hamilton.

And he said that was an example of the PLP's approach to protecting historic Bermuda buildings.

Mr. Hodgson added that the PLP would also be listing buildings of interest in the City of Hamilton "so they can be preserved in the interests of future generations.'' The news was welcomed by Elise Outerbridge of Masterworks.

She said: "Right after Jennifer Smith got elected, they knew that we needed a home -- I thought nothing would come of it.'' Mr. Hodgson was speaking as the Opposition UBP delivered its first ever reply to the Throne Speech.

Mr. Hodgson also promised that the PLP would act to protect open spaces and farmland.

He said there had been six Environment Ministers in the last six years.

But he added the PLP intended to "provide some stability'' and take over land "with the support of the entire community'' in order to protect it from development.

He said that policy on quarrying under previous UBP Governments appeared to be "don't do it.'' But he added: "We want it to be done in a way which will be of greatest benefit to all.'' Mr. Hodgson said that "it was all very well'' to talk about tourism and international business as the pillars of the economy.

But he added: "Both these industries are service industries and both with remuneration at the upper end of the scale.'' And he said farmers had pointed out that bringing in help from overseas meant they had to pay the same work permit fees as international business -- a situation he promised to look at.

Earlier, Premier Jennifer Smith -- also Education Minister -- outlined plans for the area revealed in last week's Throne Speech.

She said teachers would be transferred to pre-schools and non-qualified personnel from there to Primary One and Two classes so children would get "a yearning for learning'' instilled in them as early as possible.

And she repeated the pledge to bring in truancy officers to make sure pupils turned up regularly.

Ms Smith said that it was only very recently that truancy was admitted to be a problem.

She added that skipping school was often "a cry for help'' which could not be ignored.

Ms Smith said: "There are usually reasons why young people skip school -- they don't just do it because they don't feel like going that day.'' And she added that youngsters who got away with truancy felt that no-one cared enough to make sure they were there.

Ms Smith also said Government would move to a national curriculum across the system -- including private pre-schools -- to ensure parents had a yardstick to measure performance.

And she added that Government would look at purpose-built pre-schools "where appropriate.'' Ms Smith also threw Government's weight behind the aims of the international World Aids Day on December 1, which aims to cut the spread of HIV/AIDS under the banner "Be a Force for Change'' -- a theme designed to enlist the support of the young in combatting the killer virus.

Shadow Works and Engineering Minister CV (Jim) Woolridge told the new House: "We recognise there is a common thread.

"We're all Bermudians -- we either work together or we will starve together.'' And he reminded MPs that top class school buildings were little use without "dedicated teachers.'' And he also called for an another bridge out of St. George's connecting to Southside as an alternative to the Swing Bridge.

New PLP MP Randy Horton used his maiden speech to the House to push education as a vital part of Government's strategy.

He said: "This Government recognises that our people are the key asset, not only for the economic well-being of the Country, but to the social aspects of this Country.'' And he said that the PLP would work towards a first-rate public schools system to "ensure that children from all backgrounds get top class education'' so they could "participate in the global economy.'' Mr. Horton said he was disturbed by young Bermudians who were unable to afford to attend college abroad.

And he said Government would move toward developing Bermuda College as a four-year institution so those unable or unwilling to leave the Island would still be able to receive a degree.

Mr. Horton said there was "no reason'' why expertise from the international business industry could not be utilised to develop a college of insurance.

And he said resources from the Bermuda Biological Station could be used to help develop classes and programmes in marine biology.

Mr. Horton said Government must look to improving teaching standards by furthering continuing education programmes to keep teachers on "the cutting edge.'' "Education is our priority because it is the people's priority,'' he added.

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith applauded Government's emphasis on education, stating: "The Bermuda of tomorrow is being shaped by the dreams and aspirations of today.'' But he placed a heavy emphasis on thrashing out the details of proposed Government education policies.

For example, he questioned if a truancy officer would handle strictly external truancy -- where the child did not attend school -- or whether the officers' duties would include internal truancy where students did not attend class.

Mr. Smith said plans to abolish school zones needed discussion. He said the system efficiently managed supply and demand, and said if zoning were abolished it needed to be replaced by an alternative system.

Mr. Smith stressed the importance of private education and warned against taking an "exclusionary approach'' -- stating that the public education system benefited by competing against the private system.

He questioned the viability of an elected school board -- stating that it may become "overly politicised''.

And Mr. Smith said he had some "nervousness'' about Bermuda College becoming a four-year institution, and suggested the money be used for scholarships and bursars instead.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox emphasised that Government had no intention of introducing new taxes.

He stated that some Government programmes that were "nice to do'' would "slide to the back-burner'' in favour of those programmes deemed vital.

Government backbencher Delaey Robinson gave his maiden speech, stating he was "humbled'' by the "huge and awesome responsibility'' Government had assumed.

"We have seen a smile on the face of Bermuda stretching from Somerset to St.

George's,'' he said.

He criticised the former Government for spending money on "buildings instead of programmes'', noting that the PLP had "inherited a $100 million debt''.

Development, Opportunity and Government Services Minister Terry Lister said the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality was "a good start'', but needed to be monitored to ensure racism was eliminated from the workplace.

And he said the Human Rights Commission needed to be improved because "too often cases have gotten hung up'' in the process.

Mr. Lister criticised the previous Government for its "inconsistent policies'', giving as example the twin port policy in Dockyard which he said had a "significant negative impact on Wedco''.

He said the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation was an important institution, but said their track record was "not particularly impressive''.

Mr. Lister stated that Personnel Services would be developed in three key areas: By promoting training and development of the civil service, instituting a drug and alcohol policy for all Government employees, and establishing paternity leave.

"This Government wants to make sure the family unit works from the start,'' he said.

PLP backbencher Neletha Butterfield then insisted that libraries had to have more flexible opening hours to enable mature students to study in their free time.

The Pembroke West Central MP also said that entrepreneurs were essential in maintaining a healthy economy and that the new Government would do all it could to encourage new businesses.

She went on to say that senior citizens must be a priority of any government.

"I believe seniors are our greatest resource and we need to meet the needs of those who have met our needs in the past,'' she said.

"As the daughter of a musician I have watched as my family suffered when my father lost his job. We will also assist in the provision of in house care. I believe this has to be done with trained care givers.'' In an otherwise good natured session, Ms Butterfield could not resist finishing off her speech with a dig at the Opposition.

"Our Throne Speech has a lot of substance,'' she said.

"And, while I haven't read it, theirs is nothing but an apology.

Newly elected Warwick East MP Dale Butler then rose to make his maiden address to the House.

He continued the theme of many Government MPs by welcoming the Opposition's response to the Throne Speech.

"I can support the members of the Opposition who have been accused of giving an apology,'' he said.

"But really they have made a total conversion -- when you read about genuine cooperation that's not an apology.

"We are all from the one Bermuda but when they told us we were incapable that was unforgivable. But there is sympathy in my heart and I am encouraged by their tenor -- it sounds like we have some kind of coalition.'' Mr. Butler went on to say that his main concern was the issue of housing, saying that there was a housing crisis on the Island.

"There are people who cannot afford a home in their own country and there should be no homelessness in a country as rich as Bermuda,'' he said.

Another issue which he criticised the former Government of ignoring was the establishment of national heroes. And he suggested that the reason why the UBP had ignored the issue was because so many of the Island's heroes are black.

"I know it's difficult for them to be able to look at that and accept that eight out of ten are black Bermudians,'' he said.

"We have a stamp advisory committee that does a wonderful job of putting flowers and birds and bees and trees on our stamps but I can never convince them to consider putting a Bermudian on our stamps. Only once has this happened with (former Miss World) Gina Swainson.'' Other important initiatives contained in the Throne Speech that Mr. Butler highlighted were the setting up of parish councils which would "empower people'' and the need to look at school attendance levels.

And he also expressed concern for the environment.

"We want all these exempt companies to come over but where are we going to put them all,'' he said.

Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome also welcomed the Opposition's stance. But he went on to say that, although only a Minister for 12 days, he already had a stack of demands from people asking for help.

"Clearly some people have been forgotten on the way and that's why the UBP lost favour with the average Bermudian,'' he said.

"A number of people have already been calling with difficulties in housing and that's one of the critical areas that I have to spend some time on.'' The Minister also listed drug abuse and the state of senior homes as other considerations he will be focusing on.

Shadow Health and Social Services spokeswoman Kim Young , in reply to her opposite number, welcomed many of the initiatives in the Throne Speech.

And she also said that the euphoria felt across the country as a result of a PLP election victory was also something to be thankful for.

"If the PLP being the Government of the day has created national esteem I support it and hope it lasts forever,'' she said.

Mrs. Young said that she had spoken to her opposite number since the election and hoped that the pair would be able to work together. She went on to highlight some of what she believed were virtues in the Throne Speech, including plans on education, twice-weekly garbage collections and more support for senior citizens.

"But she questioned the fact that the PLP platform made no reference to child maintenance payments and also said that fathers should be given more rights.

And she also called for the regulation of diagnostic units throughout the Island.

PLP veteran Stanley Morton , in response to Mrs. Young's concerns, said: "We have a caring Government, a Government with soul and a heart, a Government with feeling and concern.

"I want people to have confidence and trust and when they talk to us and express their concerns we will try to make every effort to accommodate them.'' Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox said Government had no intention of "throwing the baby out with the bath water'', and planned to build on successes of the past.

"We don't want to see the law of the jungle prevail -- we want to see a community where there is an enlargement and expansion of opportunities,'' she said.

Ms Cox said she recently met with the Commissioner of Police to ensure Police had the "necessary resources so that people feel safe''.

In terms of immigration policy, Ms Cox said although Bermudians can be "very territorial'', the Government cannot be seen to be "giving away our birthright''.

Emphasising "inclusion'' and "dialogue'', Ms Cox said she expected "a number of challenges'' during her review of employment legislation.

But she said she wanted to "reverse the view that Bermudians are not good enough''.

Ms Cox said Government wanted to make sure that Bermudians were well-trained and qualified so businesses made Bermudians their "first port of call'' when hiring.

Regarding the Working Residents' Certificate policy set up during the previous Government, Ms Cox emphasised that it was established as an interim policy.

But she assured that under the new PLP Government, the interim policy would remain in place pending the results of the Green Paper.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said the budget for the Ministry was approximately $40 to $60 million.

He noted that although Government was currently making plans to institute a twice-weekly garbage pickup Island wide, it would require a "Herculean effort'' by the garbage men to make it cost-effective.

Mr. Scott said Government would be looking into increasing income through recycling -- and suggested the possibility of using The Royal Gazette as "garbage'' to burn for fuel.

Mr. Scott said Phase Two of the CedarBridge project -- a 650-seat auditorium -- was expected to be completed within a year.

And he said the Ministry's next project would be the Berkeley Institute Senior School.

Mr. Scott said construction would commence in August, 1999 and would be completed by September 2002.

And he said the Ministry would "make every effort to buy more services at home'' and employ local contractors.

Mr. Scott said the Ministry was already responding to local needs, stating that the bump by Somerset bridge "would be no more'' within the next few days.

And he said the Causeway would be the Ministry's next target.

Government MP Eugene Cox made a motion to resume the discussion at the next session, and Speaker Stanley Lowe adjourned the session.

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