There was an air of cordiality in the House yesterday afternoon as MPs sat to discuss the Transport Ministry's Budget allocation.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown kicked off the session by explaining that, with a sizable portion of the Budget pie being spent on the Ministry -- nine percent or $44.6 million -- his was by no means a small responsibility.

And he added that the new Government had hit the ground running, having already began a number of promised initiatives within the first 100 days of taking power.

He said that plans were already in place to introduce coordination between the bus and ferry service, increasing parking facilities at ferry terminals, the implementation of airport jetways and a high-speed ferry system, improved security at the Airport and plans to encourage the expansion of a minibus service.

"We have much to do but it's only fair to point out that we hit the ground running -- there's sufficient evidence to suggest that the people of Bermuda were correct on November 9,'' he said in his opening address.

He went on to say that the Transport Headquarters, which has been allocated $600,000 in the Budget -- double that of last year -- was the hub of a large complex wheel. The reason for the massive Budget increase he explained was that the HQ's planning team would be responsible for developing a national transportation plan over the next 18 months which would bring together the various strands of the Island's transportation network.

This would include a traffic reduction scheme, a plan to improve ports and the introduction of a fast ferry schedule and, most significantly, the development of an integrated transport system, which includes the creation of a fare collection committee to examine the feasibility of using a universal swipe card that could be used on buses and ferries.

"In developing a transport plan we are involving as many qualified groups and people as possible,'' Dr. Brown said.

He added that the Ambassador programme was being not only continued but extended to all aspects of transport and that it was also the department's aim to allow Bermudian commuters to travel "from door to desk'' in comfort and safety.

Other objectives this year for the Ministry include: The purchase of ten new buses for the Public Transport Board and to eventually reduce the average age of the fleet's vehicles.

Vehicle licence fees to be paid in installments.

A new expanded bus schedule by next year.

The introduction of vanity licence plates.

All taxis to have in car radios by the end of the year.

Making the Bermuda International Airport a revenue earner by creating concessions.

Make the airport more user friendly and welcoming.

Dr. Brown also highlighted the fact that his Ministry was having to work in close cooperation with other ministries, particularly Tourism and Environment, to ensure that policies devised in one ministry did not have a negative effect on the other.

Responding, Shadow Tourism Minister Erwin Adderley explained that there was much to applaud in the proposals for the coming year -- mainly because many of the initiatives and improvements had been created by the last Government.

He argued that the PLP's National Transportation Plan borrowed much from the UBP's Transport 2000 initiative. "I recognise that the Government has only been in that position for four months and they haven't had the time to make some of the changes that they wish to make,'' he said.

"But there will be a time for constructive criticism when these details get fleshed out.'' He did question why, following last year's horrific catalogue of road deaths, there was no mention of any road safety campaign in the Budget.

And he also insisted that an Airport Authority should be set up separate to the Transport Authority. "That's one of the projects that's on hold pending a review by an independent agency,'' Dr. Brown said.

Ministry of Transport 1999/00 estimates Ministry responsibility: To supervise transportation systems in Bermuda.

Budget estimate: $44,605,000 (last year $41,347,000) Revenue: $42,555,000 Budget allocations Marine and Ports Services $9,968,000 Airport Operations $17,206,000 Transport Control Department $1,941,000 Public Transportation $12,342,000 Transport Headquarters $672,000 Civil Aviation $2,476,000