Retired Bermudian Police officers could help plug the gaps in the under-pressure force.

That was the view of Independent Senator Alf Oughton, who believed the country should look to itself first to solve staffing issues at the service.

Speaking as the Senate debated the budget, he queried bringing in retired overseas officers whilst there were people on the Island who could fill the void.

"The Police are under-staffed, if there are experienced Bermudian officers who are retired, we could do something about bringing them back in,'' he said.

He said problems with their pensions could be overcome so the officers didn't lose out.

"Before we go overseas we should be looking at bringing back these officers, with experience and local knowledge, which is worth its weight in gold.'' In addition, he questioned the policy of retiring officers at 55, when some could work to 65.

And Sen. Oughton questioned when the country would see the prisoners halfway house up and running.

He said it had been brought before the Senate for the past three years and now it was time to see some bricks and mortar.

And fellow Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes raised concerns over the new immigration hotline to be introduced soon.

"It is a good opportunity for people to have their say, but you are risking things putting a line in, people could call up like the talk shows,'' he said.

Sen. Hughes said he was pleased to see there was going to be training in the area of intellectual property, which is set to be a growth area.

Opposition Senator Kim Swan called for more women to join the volunteer Fire Service.

He said once the Government allocated funds to promote the programme, which was for both sexes, but mostly men have joined.

Government Sen. Michael Scott said the UBP requested more time to look at the Parliamentary Election Amendment Act 1999, which was approved by the Senate.

Health care costs should not increase at a rate of twice inflation, hitting residents who already face increasing charges, said Sen. Maxwell Burgess.

He queried the Hospital Insurance (Standard Premium) Regulations 1999, passed by the Senate, which increases hospital fees.

The Government should have some compassion, he said, especially when salaries were only increased by 1.9 percent.

But Sen. Oughton said the rise had been double inflation for many years, and was lower than it had been for a few years.

Senate Leader Milton Scott said it was true that costs at KEMH were higher than in the private sector, but the hospital had an infrastructure to support.

He recognised the former UBP Government's commitment to health care and said the PLP wanted to ensure everybody had access to the hospital.

Also passed by the Senate was the Government Fees Amendment Regulations 1999, the Hospital Insurance (Deductions) Amendment Regulations 1999, Customs Department Amendment Act 1999, Motor Car Amendment Act 1999, Merchant Shipping (Fees) Amendment Regulations 1999, Merchant Shipping Amendment Act 1999, Merchant Shipping and Demise Charter (Registration and Tonnage Fees) Amendment Act 1999.