Annex are officially turned over to Bermuda from the US Navy tomorrow.

Official handover ceremonies were held during the summer, and no plans for any final ceremony were firm by yesterday afternoon.

At most, there might be a small flag-lowering ceremony tonight or a flag handover tomorrow, a Government spokesman said.

While Premier the Hon. David Saul has described the return of the Bases as a future potential "gold mine'' for Bermuda in new investment, the immediate impact will be an added security problem.

Police officers who provide security at the US Naval Air Station until civilians are ready to take over will be paid at the civilian rate, a Police spokesman said.

The Police Service has asked officers to volunteer for the extra duty, which is expected to extend from Friday until October 1, Sgt. Chris Wilcox told The Royal Gazette.

Earlier this month, Police Deputy Commissioner Mr. Michael Mylod appeared at a news conference with Cabinet Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons to explain security arrangements at the Base in St. David's.

Civilians will be used for security, under Police supervision, they said. But training for the 28 recruits would not be completed until October 1.

Security for the 464 acres at St. David's that lie outside the Airport fence are expected to cost just over $1 million a year.

Mr. Mylod said regular Police and reserves would be used to patrol the Base fence around the clock until training for the civilians was completed.

Twelve officers who had been providing security at the Airport would be used, and Police were not being taken off the street to patrol the Base, he said.

Sgt. Wilcox said that until the civilians are trained and ready to start work on October 1, officers who volunteer will do the security work in their spare time. And they will be paid the civilian rate of $16 an hour, which is less than a constable's salary, he said.