was "selling Bermudians' birthright'' on immigration matters.

And he said some saw Government as "a real obstacle'' to recruiting the best possible staff for their businesses.

But he said: "Neither of these extreme views is an accurate characterisation of the policies and procedures carried out on the Government's behalf by the Department of Immigration.'' He pointed out the department was staffed by Bermudians under a Bermudian Minister -- and they all had a vested interest in looking after the welfare of their fellow citizens.

And he added that non-Bermudians in the workforce made a valuable contribution to Bermuda's economic life.

Mr. Edness said: "It is time that all of us -- and particularly Members of this Honourable House, overcame our sometimes xenophobic tendencies and accepted that the regular influx of foreign expertise is essential to our continued ability to compete in a world where protectionist barriers are being broken down every day.'' Mr. Edness was speaking during his introduction to the Budget debate on his Ministry.

He added that a Green Paper on the plight of long-term residents would be put before the House this session.

But Mr. Edness said: "Any solutions will have to take full account of the contributions which long-term residents make to our economic, social and cultural well-being, as well as their impact on our limited resources and infrastructure.

On public safety, Mr. Edness said he found it "perplexing and disturbing'' that criticism continued to be levelled at the Police force from those "in positions of responsibility whose function it should be to support the Police in their courageous efforts towards reform.'' He added: "I wish to make it plain....that the practice of undermining public order institutions is very dangerous and one which strikes at the very heart of our democratic society.

"We subscribe to a system of policing by consent, but this system can only work effectively if the public have confidence in the Police and more particularly, if they believe their elected representatives support the Police.'' Mr. Edness added: "Change does not come easily to any of us but all our Policemen, including the Commissioner of Police, deserve to be commended for their willingness to embrace change and for the progress they have made in making this a safer place to live.'' He said that appointing an overseas Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner was a "bold step'' in the "long-term interests of all of us who are fortunate enough to live in this Country.'' And he added that great progress had been made in transforming and modernising the force and that crime was on a downward trend.

Mr. Edness said: "The Police Service is well on the way to being reorganised and trained in a more modern, business-like manner which will allow our Policemen to provide an enhanced service to the public, while at the same time providing them with far greater opportunities in training and a more satisfying career path.'' He told the House that there had been 5,619 one-year immigration permits issued in Bermuda last year, compared to 5,168 in 1995.

Permits running from two to five years totalled 978 in 1996, compared to 830 the year before.

That meant totals of 6,594 for 1996 and 5,998 for the previous year.

Airport arrivals for 1996 showed almost 394,000 visitors, plus nearly 119,000 permanent residents and more than 4,800 temporary residents.

A total of 20 people were refused entry -- the second lowest annual figure for more than a decade.

But he added that "the last vestiges'' of discrimination against women in immigration matters would be swept away in the near future.

Mr. Edness also said that Bermuda had just received from the UK -- at no cost -- the latest visa forms, which are printed rather than hand-written and will be stored on computer.

He added that Immigration Arrival forms will be printed in a way can be scanned into computers, which will be useful to Police, Immigration and Customs officials.

Mr. Edness added that the Labour and Training Department had been set up last year because of a "pressing need for a more structured approach'' to provide Bermudians at all levels the opportunity to gain the necessary skills for work in a high-tech world and that $2 million plus would be spent in this area.

He admitted exact figures for the jobless rate on the Island were hard to get because not everyone registered with the Employment Office.

But he said that registered unemployed had gone down "considerably'' on the previous year.

And he added that officals were trying to develop methods to more accurately monitor unemployment statistics to the stage where predictions can be made.

But Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott in his reply said that Grant Gibbons in his Budget speech had said that protectionist barriers were coming down across the world and pointed to the success of Bermuda's international business -- which thrived in a highly competitive global environment.

But he pointed out that comparing international business to the Island economy was like matching an ocean-going yacht compared to a Bermuda dinghy and comparisons were unfair.

He added: "We will always have to provide some sort of protection for our Bermudian employees.'' On the Police, Mr. Scott said that some areas of crime had fallen -- but that they had also been falling than the current Police administration had been in place.

He added: "We have had the presentation of selected statistics which the impression that crime is down in Bermuda.'' But he said that crime in Bermuda was driven by a desire for drugs and the supply of drugs.

Mr. Scott also hit back at claims that it was the duty of the PLP to support Police uncritically.

He said: "It's mischievious for the Minister to suggest that as we carry out our responsibility -- monitoring what takes place in the Police, the Regiment and indeed in his own Ministry, that we are injuring the Police Service.

Mr. Scott went on to say that he had met the UK's Inspector of Police for the Dependent Territories, who had said senior officers in Britain, while serving the community, "cut their teeth'' on keen scrutiny of their affairs.

But he said: "What worries me is that democracy doesn't export well from Britain. Maybe it's not intended to exist in a colony -- and we are a colony.

"If the Minister feels wounded and put out by my statements, so be it -- I'm carrying out my responsibility.'' He added that the axing of former top cop Wayne Perinchief was "illegal and unacceptable'' and there would have been no fuss from the Opposition if "justice had been done.'' Mr. Scott claimed that white Police officers tended to be in administrative jobs, while black officers pounded the beat and asked if there could be a discriminatory process at work.

Mr. Scott said that the fee charge for work permits probably did not even cover the costs.

He added that the permit situation was not as simple as painted by Government because some people held two or even three and -- even if one or two permits were removed -- "that warm body does still not leave Bermuda.'' And he insisted that the percentage of jobs held by non-Bermudians had increased every year over the last few years.

He said: "The bottom line is that Bermudians are losing their job share while non-Bermudians gain the share. No matter how you add it up, no matter what category you put it under.'' And he added that, while spouses of non-Bermudians had the right to work, they did not have the right to displace Bermudians with equal skills.

Mr. Scott went on to say that work permits should what Bermuda needed and that Bermudians in the least skilled jobs needed protection.

And he said: "If we want to bring key people in as corporate heads -- what we should do is make it dramatically costly to have people introduced into our economy if we want to protect young Bermudians.'' Moving to training, Mr. Scott said that the only training he had heard about was Canadians being brought in to train locals who would then train others.

And he challenged Government to say how many were graduates of training were in the workforce and for how long.

He added that for many young people, their first income was a Social Assistance cheque.

Mr. Scott said: "That is not spoken to in the Budget debate. The Premier was quite proud to say Social Assistance numbers were down. I think he was saying Social Assistance was down from what they predicted.'' UBP backbencher Grace Bell told the House that she had been told that people working illegally in Bermuda were also suspected of committing crimes.

The PLP's Ottiwell Simmons said that the workforce in Bermuda was around 34,000 out of a population of 60,000 -- which suggested the Country was near full employment.

But he added that Bermuda did not have full employment for all Bermudians.

He said: "There are certain fundamental constitutional rights that the workers in this Country have and it's my belief that the Government is not affording these rights to the working class.'' The Police drugs squad should be doubled for the war on the scourge, Government declared yesterday.

Edness said the narcotics unit had been boosted from 23 to 29 officers.

And now there were moves to beef up the unit even more.

"We need to double the number of men. We need between 56 and 60,'' Mr. Edness said.

His comments came during the House of Assembly debate on the Budget estimates for the Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Ministry.

Also yesterday Mr. Edness said: Government was committed to Bermudianising the Service -- over the past four years only Bermudians had been recruited; Government had funded a Police proposal for a pilot scheme to start taping interviews of suspects in two rooms; Government would table legislation -- modelled on the UK Police and Criminal Evidence Act -- on these taped interviews.

The legislation would ensure strict guidelines were followed during taping.

Police were examining the idea of linking up with Bermuda College to launch a training course for 19 to 35-year-olds hoping to become officers; The Police basic training course was being revised, with communication skills being added; Up to 42 more Police posts would be civilianised over the next three years; A new group was being formed to deal with the effects of the upcoming Proceeds of Crime Act; Some $200,000 had been allocated for using speed detection cameras; and Closed circuit television cameras would be used in the Bull's Head Car Park and Hamilton city centre as part of a pilot scheme.

Alex Scott later banged the Opposition drum for Bermudianisation of the Service.

He said Bermudians could not be held accountable if Government argued the Service had been poorly run until the arrival of British Police Commissioner Colin Coxall.

For some 400 years, the Police Service had been the responsibility of the UK Government.

"We have never had home rule.'' According to the Budget estimates for 1997/98, the current account for the Police is $30,422,905 -- an increase of $435,479 or 1.5 percent.

A further $1,250,000 has been set aside as capital development for building renovations.

Mr. Edness said Government had recognised the need for major change in policing Bermuda and backed the Police Service Strategy with money.

"Policing must go hand in hand with other social initiatives and community involvement, but the overriding consideration must be for the preservation of public safety.

"Citizens have a right to expect that certain types of behaviour are considered unacceptable and will be treated and punished as such.

"Drug peddling -- the corruption of our youth -- and violent crime are the ugliest examples of such unacceptable behaviour. Government is committed to dealing forcefully with these problems.'' Mr. Edness said Government believed the Police Service would be led by Bermudians eventually.

"However, we must be practical, for to achieve this it is vital to utilise outside assistance to develop our local potential.

"We have accepted this fact with the Police Service and I believe we will reap the benefits of outside help for years to come.

"We have not buried our heads in the sand but have faced the problems, made the hard decisions and funded a process of renewal.'' Mr. Edness said plans were in place to train and nurture the best officers to take over the running of Service.

"This will be done as quickly as possible, but in a sensible and logical way that best serves the people of Bermuda.'' Mr. Edness said funding for staff development and training had been increased to $212,000 from $187,000.

The Police cadet scheme had been abandoned because it was not succeeding in producing quality officers, he added.

"As an alternative the Police Service is exploring the possibility of an integrated course in conjunction with Bermuda College.

"Such a course would appeal to 19-35 year age bracket and would give attendees the basic skills and training to become Police officers.'' Mr. Edness said civilianisation had thrust more officers into mainstream Police work.

"A prime example of this is the increase in parish constables, now at 26 from the previous 14, which reflects our commitment to community policing.'' Mr. Edness then turned to the Bermuda Regiment -- describing it as an "invaluable resource for which Bermudians can be justifiably proud''.

The Regiment's current account in the Budget estimates was $4,426,000 -- an increase of 5.29 percent, he said.

"Due to a declining birthrate the Regiment is experiencing increasing difficulty in maintaining its current strength from the volunteers and conscripts available.'' Mr. Edness said the Regiment would not be significantly troubled numerically by conscientious objectors.

And he added Government was looking at methods whereby conscientious objectors could give service by other means.

"What would harm the future existence of this essential and worthy institution is any alternative to military service in which young people could elect to serve.'' Mr. Edness went on to heap praise on the Bermuda Regiment's commanding officer Col. David Burch, who will be stepping down in November.

He also commended the Bermuda Fire Service, saying it contributed greatly to the well-being and safety of everybody in the community.

"Members will appreciate that for several years now the Service has been 100 percent Bermudianised. The Fire Service also has an extremely low turnover rate, and this speaks highly of the loyalty displayed by the men and women who provide such dedicated service.'' Mr. Scott also applauded Col. Burch and the Fire Service.

He said the Regiment and the Fire Service demonstrated how Bermudians possessed leadership qualities.

Continued in Monday's newspaper Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety 1997/98 estimates Ministry responsibility: To advise on the formulation and implementation of policy, to generally direct and co-ordinate the operations and the activities within the Ministry, including labour and public safety.

Budget estimate: $47,195,000 (last year $45,491,000) Budget allocations Defence $4,427,000 Police $30,423,000 Immigration $3,077,000 Registry General $1,143,000 Labour and Home Affairs HQ $219,000 Fire Services $5,747,000 Security Services $123,000 Labour and Training $2,036,000 Revenue $14,185,000