session of the House of Assembly yesterday.

Minister for Legislative Affairs Lois Browne Evans got the ball rolling by giving the second reading of the Parliamentary Election Amendment Act, which changes the date for the publication of the draft register and for the making of claims and objections. The bill was supported on both sides of the House.

Also approved were changes to certain port fees which are paid to the Corporation of Hamilton. Storage rent at the docks has increased as well as the cost of registration fees for vessels docking in Hamilton.

Shadow Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons said the Opposition approved of the increases, adding that there had not been any increases since 1970.

"We don't see many regulations from the Corporation here and this is the first time some of these rates have been increased since 1970 or 1985,'' he said.

"To some degree we take the Corporation for granted. It does an excellent job and gets on with it quietly without a lot of fuss.'' The extra revenue was needed by the Corporation to fund a new sewage treatment plant.

"The Corporation is doing what we asked it to do by looking at its source of income and its source of revenue before turning to Government for additional funds,'' Dr. Gibbons said.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome presented the Bermuda Hospitals Board (Hospital Fees) Amendment Regulations, which will set prices for certain medical operations.

Overall prices are set to rise by four percent, a figure which Mr. Bascome pointed out was lower than in previous years under the UBP administration.

And the creation of a political Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions moved a step closer when The Director of Public Prosecutions (Consequential Amendments) Act was read for the second time and passed by the House.

"We believe that democracy is better exercised or carried out when the politics is put separate from the criminal justice system,'' said Mrs. Browne Evans, who is tipped to become Attorney General herself.

"Justice must be seen to be unfettered by politics.'' It was a sentiment echoed by Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt .

"We must embrace that as a principle,'' he said.

"Under the constitution when there's going to be a political appointment we then have to appoint a Director of Public Prosecutions and that person will be appointed by the Governor. It's an appointment much like the Attorney General only non-political.

Mr. Barritt said the Director would have to be of strong character who "will be able to make decisions and stand up to those decisions''.

During the final motion to adjourn in this session of Parliament, PLP MPs goaded the Opposition and congratulated themselves over the Budget presentation.

Tourism Minister David Allen took great delight in continually reminding everyone in the chamber, particularly Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell, of the party's November 9 election victory.

He continually referred to the UBP as "the former Government -- now the Opposition'' and could not resist a dig at his opposite number on the Opposition benches.

Referring to the recently signed hotel workers collective agreement he said: "His hotel, The Reefs, has yet to sign it, even though the UBP Cabinet urged everyone to sign it.

"It cries out for some kind of comment and there you are, I've made it and I feel much better as a result.'' Mr. Allen went on to praise Bermuda Industrial Union leader and fellow MP Derrick Burgess for bringing some creative thinking to industrial relations within the tourism industry.

"The leadership of the union under Derrick Burgess has been very pro active and very creative on the way they approached negotiations,'' he said.

"It's not easy in Bermuda and the honourable member has shown great flexibility.'' Mr. Allen went on to say that the improved industrial relations under the new government was a good omen for the tourism industry but added that "18 years of malaise and decay'' could not be turned around overnight.

"We are clawing our way out of the deep pit dug by the UBP,'' he said.

"This is a five year programme to turn this around. We don't look for miracles in the first year -- anything we get this year will be a bonus.

"But everyone feels motivated to go that extra mile to welcome our visitors.

Since November 9 people do feel more motivated and more energised and I am confident that this is a new beginning and we will turn things around.

Pembroke West Central MP Neletha Butterfield added to the Government's feelgood factor by praising her more experienced colleagues.

And she argued that the PLP could be a more effective Government because it had experience of caring. And she also took the opportunity to taunt the Opposition.

"I just want to say how proud I am to be part of this experienced team,'' she said.