Furbert outlined the expenditures and revenues of his Ministry, dealing first with a financial review of operations at the Bermuda International Airport and the Department of Air Operations.

The Minister told the House current expenditures of $30,580,000 for all departments, which includes Airport Operations, Transportation Control Department, Public Transportation, Transport Headquarters, and Civil Aviation, were running three-percent below last year's budget, a decrease of some $866,000.

Revenue of $32,076,000 from all departments in 1996-97 meanwhile represented an increase of six-percent, up $1,842,000. Mr. Furbert pegged current capital expenditures at $7,604,000.

Turning his attention to Airport Operations, the Minister paid tribute to staff at the International Airport, noting this is only the second year the Airport has been in Bermudian hands.

The Airport, he noted, is Bermuda's gateway to the world and serves to create first impressions upon arrival. Measures are continuing to streamline operating effectiveness and upgrade facilities.

Much work remains to be done, especially with regard to reducing the Airport's operating deficit. On this front Government has no intentions of increasing taxes to carry operating costs.

Instead said Mr. Furbert, Government is looking to the private-sector to step in and help operate the facility with the public sector. Now is the time to start considering these options, he said.

Meanwhile progress has been made on a number of Government initiatives, including Bermudianisation of Airport staff, and the redesign and renovations of the departure lounge, immigration hall, separate arrival and departure access, and the concession and retail areas.

In addition a new baggage delivery system is to be installed utilising self-serve trolleys as well as porters, car park facilities are to be upgraded to provide long-term and staff parking on a cost basis, the car park is to be landscaped, and a new Courier clearance facility is to be built.

The courier Customs centre, estimated at $300,000, is to expected to be completed by mid-June, he told the House.

Progress is also being made on bringing Kindley Field up to International Civil Aviation Authority standards, including the removal of obstacles adjacent to runways, including Longbird House.

Bermudianisation of meteorological operations remains stymied because of a lack of qualified applicants, said Mr. Furbert.

And he appealed to Bermudian Secondary School students with a facility for math, physics, or the sciences, to look into a career this field.

Government would be willing to cover the costs of tuition and travel for any qualified Bermudian seeking a career as a weather forecaster, he told the House.

Turning his attention to Civil Aviation, the Minister noted attempts to develop an Aircraft and Crew Registry on Bermuda were paying dividends, as this department generated revenues of $1.7 million offset by expenses of $1,485,000.

Mr. Furbert noted Bermuda's first registered aircraft was a 1931 Vickers Flying Boat. Since then more than 140 aircraft are registered on the Island, including a Boeing 747 Jumbo jet down to a single cylinder aircraft.

He also informed the House Bermuda's call-sign designation, traditionally "VR'' was being changed to "VP'', effective sometime this summer.

Shadow Minister of Transport Dennis Lister raised several points about the new departmental estimates, and drew attention to unfilled vacancies among porters at the airport.

Cutting porter service from a destination trying to sell itself as a high-class tourist resort he said, is sending the wrong signal; "It's taking away that personal touch for a machine,'' he said.

Mr. Lister also asked the Minister to provide a insight into the Airport's transportation budget of $30,000, wondering aloud what was represented in that figure.

He also questioned why Government was allocating $7 million to refurbishing retail and concession areas when the Airport's arrival area was calling for attention.

"That's $7 million being spent on McDonald's,'' he said, drawing protests from the Minister of Transport. "He's misleading the House by saying we've spent $7 million on McDonald's; that's not the case,'' Mr. Furbert shot back.

Mr. Lister withdrew his statement, but continued to chide Government for spending money at the Airport to turn it into a shopping mall. Bermuda's Airport doesn't lend itself to passengers hanging around the terminal to shop.

"Are we serious about building an Airport, or are we building a shopping mall?'' he argued.

Mister Lister also accused Government of permitting the "Canadianisation'' of the Airport, charging that because of Canadian control, runway signals had been changed to Canadian signals.

He also chided Mr. Furbert for bringing in a Canadian crew to paint directional lines on the runway, "when anyone here could've done it.'' The Progressive Labour Party's Leon (Jimmy) Williams also raised concerns about the downgrading of porters at the Airport.

Visitors he argued, "should be met at the Airport by a Bermudian, who helps them with their baggage to Customs and taxis.'' "There are many young men now sitting on the wall who do this job.

Trollies,'' he said, "won't provide the same personal service.'' Shadow Minister of Tourism David Allen also criticised baggage handling, saying visitors should have the option of a porter, especially for elderly visitors.

Mr. Furbert replied he was happy to agree with Mr. Allen's remarks, and that the option was being preserved: "We're not getting rid of the Red Caps, they'll always be there,'' he told the House.

Regarding retail expansion at the Airport, Mr. Furbert pointed out that included in the retail plan were renovations to Airport walkways, departure lounges, and the immigration hall.

Mr. Furbert also pointed out construction at the terminal was on time and and on budget.

He also knocked the Opposition for being shortsighted, saying retail expansion was being put in place to raise revenue for Airport operations.

"There's a demand for these facilities, but the PLP will have none of it.

They don't want to raise revenues like that -- they just want to tax people more,'' he said.

Government is moving away from arrangements that require taxpayer support, he said, pointing out that all over the world airports were being privatised.

He also knocked Opposition charges that the Airport was being "Canadianised,'' telling the House the runway call signs originally in place were military and were changed to ICAA specifications: "These are not Canadian standards, they're international standards,'' he said.

Meanwhile a foreign crew was brought in to repaint runway directional lines because no one on the Island could do it, he said.

"These aren't cricket fields, they're airports. These guys are specialists, using special paint.

"What do you want, someone out there with a can of Bermuda paint and a paint brush?'' he chided.

Meanwhile all construction work at the Airport falls under control of Mr.

Marshall Minors who is Bermudian, added Mr. Furbert.

Picking up the debate after lunch Mr. Furbert reviewed the operations of the Transport Control Department and Public Transportation Bermuda.

TCD is charged with administering all motor vehicles on Bermuda's roads, controlling the size and quality. It also administers licensing, driver exams, and vehicle inspections, he said.

With an operating expense of $1.8 million, of which $1.5 million was consumed by wages and salaries, TCD generated $17,450,000 in revenue, one of Government's largest revenue sources, he said.

Of that number licensing of private cars was largest single source of revenue, with private drivers coughing up more than $11 million.

The Minister pegged the total number of vehicles on Bermuda's roads at 47,000, of which 21,227 were private cars.

Considering the Island has 26,970 registered dwelling units, it works out that 78.77 percent of households have a car, he told Honourable Members.

"If every home had a car that would work out to 5000 more vehicles on the road,'' he said, and it's a situation Government was watching closely.

In addition to Government's Transport 2000 initiative, Greenpapers were being planned on road engineering, graduated licensing, and child safety belts.

In the face of increasing traffic congestion Government may have to look at alternatives, such as integrating the "under-used'' taxi service with bus and ferry service he said, but the time to consider a moratorium on cars has not yet arrived.

The Minister also announced Government would be cracking down on unlicenced drivers by increasing fines, which presently stand at $100. Government is also looking at legislation to provide Police the authority to administer road-side breath tests, he revealed.

Mr. Furbert next turned his attention to public transportation, informing the House five new buses were scheduled to be delivered this year.

In terms of operation 3.5 million passenger rides were recorded over the year, with buses logging 400 scheduled trips daily.

Along with the new buses, new schedules were to be added taking increased demand from the baselands, CedarBridge Academy, and Dockyard.

Shadow Minister of Transport Dennis Lister was encouraged to hear five new buses were being added to the 20 already brought in, but he told the House Government was failing to maintain its new bus terminal.

Staff there have been complaining about roof leaks and garage doors that won't open he said.

Meanwhile bus drivers, especially those working late nights, were concerned about breakdowns in the mobile communication system. "These are all housekeeping things,'' he said, and Government was failing as a landlord.

Mr. Lister also called on Government to make TCD more user friendly, pointing out that standards were not evenly applied.

Many motorists have encountered problems with tinted windows, customised licence plates, and signs that are thought to meet TCD regulations, but fail inspection anyway.

"We need to make TCD more user friendly,'' he urged the Minister.

Ministry of Transport and Aviation Services 1997/98 estimates Ministry Responsibility: To supervise transportation facilities in Bermuda, with responsibility for all operation and infrastructure at the Bermuda Airport, Transport Control Department, and Public Transportation.

Budget Estimate: $30,580,000 (last year $31,446,000) Budget Allocations Airport Operations $15,119,000 Transport Control Department $1,812,000 Public Transportation $11,853,000 Transport Headquarters $311,000 Civil Aviation $1,485,000