Assembly yesterday for its 109th conference being held in Bermuda.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan led off congratulatory and/or obituary speeches by praising the AME church for its conference, which "addresses the whole question of how the church can make its contribution to the community, particularly in times like this''.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith congratulated the Bermuda National Gallery on its third anniversary, as well as Mr. Jay Bluck for his set of prints now on display at the gallery.

Ms Smith also asked that condolences be sent to the family of Mr. William Francis, who ran the only shoe repair shop in St. George's. She also asked that condolences be sent to the family of Mr. Malcolm (Cricket) Augustus, who was found dead on Tuesday.

Mr. Tim Smith (UBP) asked that congratulations be sent to Mr. Mark Hall of the Word of Life Club, which sponsored two recent weekend retreats for teenagers at Warwick Academy.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott asked that congratulations be sent to the staff and management of the Bermuda Times newspaper, which is marking its eighth birthday. He described the Times as "one of the more objective publications on the Island''.

Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown congratulated top bowler Mr.

Dean Lightbourne for his recent victory in the PBA Southern Region Open. It was "evidence that hard work and dedication will bring success''.

In adding her congratulations to Mr. Lightbourne, Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon also congratulated Mr. Quinton Hayward, who made the bowling event possible. Ten years in the making, it might now become an annual occurrence.

The Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto (UBP) asked that condolences be sent to the family of Mrs. Doris Doyle, who for many years ran a successful small guest house on Woodbourne Avenue.

Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams (PLP) asked that condolences be sent to the family of Mr. Muray Darnell Iris, who was well-known with the gombeys and in the St.

George's community.

Rev. Trevor Woolridge (PLP), who is president of the AME Ministers Alliance, thanked the Premier and Ms Smith for their congratulatory remarks about the AME conference. He noted that Rev. Nathaniel Burgess, who was pastor of St.

John AME Church from 1962 to 1965 and now lives in New Jersey, was in the public gallery.

Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ms Renee Webb congratulated the organisers of the recent telethon held to raise funds for the Physical Abuse Centre, the Coalition for the Protection of Children, and the Institute of Child and Family Support.