boss who called for a Bermuda casino, saying he hoped one would never open in the Island.

But Opposition spokesman Mr. David Allen said a strong lobby in Government supported a casino, and mocked the Minister for being outside the centre of power.

Mr. Woolridge was responding to Mr. Paul Sonnabend, president of Sonesta hotels worldwide, who said Bermuda needed a casino to liven it up.

"If he doesn't like the way it's done here I'm sorry,'' the Minister told the House of Assembly. "But don't come presenting things to us that we don't feel are in the best interests of Bermuda.'' He said Sonesta Beach hotel had suffered regular closures over the last five years.

"What happens to those people who have been obliged to work there, support their families and educate their children? "If he wants to do something constructive, let him start doing something about the length of stay there and do some improvements to the property so it can continue to be a number one property on this Island.'' Atlantic City was "in worse condition than ever before'', and the Bahamas had not benefitted from gambling either. "None of that money has trickled down to the populace,'' said Mr. Woolridge.

"We have very carefully developed this destination as a quality product, and we have been admired and emulated by every other destination as doing things right.'' Cruise ship policy was being criticised by "people who don't understand,'' he added.

Bermuda was a "clean, Christian-living community where the churches should be the leaders''.

"We're taking on a very fundamental moral issue here. I hope this honourable House will never agree to having gambling in this community, and the establishing of a casino will be something we're not prepared to tolerate or accept.'' Mr. Woolridge also rejected Mr. Sonnabend's criticism that Tourism advertising was "staid''.

The Minister's stand against a casino was backed by PLP tourism spokesman Mr.

Allen.

But he said he feared for Mr. Woolridge's political future following his outburst.

"I'm aware that there is a strong lobby in Government itself that is in favour of opening a casino,'' he said. The subject had been very actively discussed in the Premier's Commission on Competitiveness.

"I can quite safely say there is a majority of hotels -- certainly the major ones -- that are in favour of casino gambling.

"I find that disturbing because I believe there are many other things that we can try.''