pay rent on the Base, MPs were told yesterday.

"We can only sit back and smirk and say we were right all along,'' Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said.

But his statement brought an equally strong response from the Premier, as the parties clashed in a House of Assembly debate on the Base closedown.

The debate ended late last night with the passage of a Government motion calling for it to continue to ensure that Base shutdown would not cause great economic hardship to Bermudians.

Government was only now realising the value of the US Naval Air Station land, Mr. Wade said.

Britain had "sold us out'' when it handed the property to the US in 1941, Mr.

Wade added.

Bermuda should now field a "national team'', picked from both parties, to negotiate with the Americans over their planned withdrawal in 1995.

He said he told George Bush, then visiting the Island as vice-president, that a PLP government would ask for rent and a "basket of other benefits'' for the Base.

But the Premier hit back at Mr. Wade, saying Bush had complained of being "insulted'' at the "audacity'' of the Opposition leader.

Returning to the Island for another visit, Bush had been reluctant to meet Mr.

Wade again.

The Premier paid tribute to the US for its contribution to Bermuda's development.

Bermuda had been able to invest in other things and not bear the cost of an Airport, he said.

The Base had played a part in protecting freedom and democracy in the Island and the world.

The Island had a "moral obligation'' over the Base, and it was "the height of hypocrisy and dishonesty'' to suggest rent should have been paid for it.

Bermuda must retain its good relationship with the US, he said. He said Mr.

Wade's speech on the Base had convinced him the PLP should not take part in negotiations with America on closing down the Base.

Opposition members on the team would create chaos, he said.

He revealed Sen. Grant Gibbons would chair two related committees -- the one looking into the future use of base lands and the one looking into air operations. Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess would be deputy chairman of the second committee.

Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman would chair the committee looking into Base "infrastructure'', he said. Works and Engineering Minister the Hon.

Leonard Gibbons would be deputy chairman.