Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome meantime, said a decrease in the age of majority would have repercussions on the numbers of people eligible to seek social assistance and housing allowance funds.

As a result it was important for Government to make moves in this direction with a corresponding education campaign because it was not possible to predict how much money would be taken from the consolidated fund to cover new cases.

Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans (PLP) said she had no fear in turning over the reins to Bermuda's young people. She said she had watched the age of majority decrease from 25 to 21 in 1968 and from 21 to 18 as far as voting was concerned in 1989.

Mrs. Browne Evans said that in some countries people as young as 16 were voting.

She said that in the past women as young as 16 were having families and were finished with childbearing by the time they reached 25.

"I welcome this,'' she said. "It's been too long coming. I hope the legislation will be soon coming.'' Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said he "believed implicitly in young people and had no problem with them being Members of Parliament or Senators.'' He said this kind of participation would make 18-year-olds more inclined to become involved in their country's affairs.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said Government wanted to ensure that young people could enter into a contract and their parents would not have to have any responsibility for them. He said that this would extend to scholarships and loans when they wanted to go overseas to further their education and would be especially helpful for single parent families.

Sir John said that this meant that parents would have to talk to their children about their responsibilities and that the schools would have to support this as well.

"I would encourage young people to be bold, make sound judgments,'' he said "...and exercise the rights and privileges that have been bestowed on them.

It is our responsibility (as a society) to make sure they are ready for that at 18.'' The Premier said it was also important to foster a strong sense of self esteem in young people as this would assist them in cope with difficulties without having to resort to taking their aggression out on other people.