Daniel's Head in Sandys Parish.

The announcement came as Senators debated the Ministry of Finance's budget estimates yesterday.

Government Senate Leader Lynda Milligan-Whyte said Government's plan to build, regenerate and revitalise the Base lands in a way which would integrate them into the Island's social and economic fabric was a very significant project, she said.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte, who devoted much of her speech to the Base lands, said the Base Lands Development Company's $5.5 million grant was for development and maintenance of the infrastructure including the sewer system, roads, security and buildings.

It was not necessary to develop all the land which had taken back when the US and Canadian bases were closed, she continued, which was why Morgan's Point was dealt with and now attention was reverting to the former Naval Air Station.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte highlighted what had been done since the US Government pulled out some 18 months ago in addition to taking over operation of the Airport.

These included creating the BLDC, expanding public access to the land for recreation and commercial use, moving the Police Scenes of Crime Unit, establishing site security and selecting a developer for Morgan's Point where work should begin in the autumn.

The Marginal Wharf area was being developed for use by light industry; a master plan for the development of the former NAS should be finished by the end of the year; and plans were afoot for the development of Daniel's Head for use in "adventure tourism'', she added.

The Base lands presented economic opportunities to Bermudians with careers in the BLDC and contractors gaining business through tenders for various work including electrical, asbestos removal, general demolition and janitorial, she said.

Earlier, the Government Senate Leader said the Finance Ministry was "the economic lifeblood of Government'' and was responsible for supervising Bermuda's economy and providing overall efficient financial management and control of Government.

The goal, she continued, was to streamline the Ministry and make it more efficient.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte noted that Government had shown it could effectively manage its purse strings while upgrading its services to the public and funding projects.

The Ministry's estimated expenditure was down because it no longer had to fund the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Conference or the Land Development Transition Office, she said.

But the Ministry's overall spending had increased to $73.2 million because of new salaries for three posts in a new division designed to deal with the growing international business sector. And grants and contributions had also gone up through grants to the Bermuda Land Development Corporation (BLDC) and the National Pension Scheme, she said.

Government intended to bring a legislative framework before the legislature during the next Parliamentary session concerning the pension scheme, she added.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) provided the sole Opposition debate on the topic and stressed he had no problem with the grant to the BLDC and supported the development of the Base lands.

However he noted that he was glad to see the message of access for Bermudians did get across and added that it was through the efforts of PLP MP's and the Sandys Action Group that Daniel's Head had become available to locals and visitors alike.

Sen. Lister said he would like to see Government produce a full set of accounts for study and added that he was interested to know if it produced cash flow statements.

He noted complaints from the public that the Accountant General's offices took a long time to cash cheques made out to it, which indicated inefficiency.

And Sen. Lister asked if the Tax Commissioner's office had the staff to deal with the new taxes it was responsible for and whether the Accountant General was overstaffed as it had lost some of its responsibilities.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte said both departments were adequately staffed.

Sen. Lister also wondered if the new executive jet area at the Airport would be properly manned by Customs officers to prevent drugs entering the Island through it.

Sen. Milligan-Whyte replied that it would be as stringently monitored as the normal terminal was.

Lynda Milligan-Whyte Milton Scott