Tributes were paid yesterday to two men who helped to shape modern Bermuda.

MPs returned from their break yesterday and stood one by one to pay tributes to former MCP Sir Henry Vesey and Wilfred (Mose) Allen who both died recently.

Premier Pam Gordon said: "Sir Henry had an honourable and distinguished career in this House.'' And Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith added: "Wilfred Allen was a man of strong convictions who worked tirelessly for the people of Bermuda.'' Sir Henry is considered by many to be the architect of the Island's tourism industry rebuilding it following the Second World War and encouraging hotels to invest.

He was also a member of the Executive Council, now called Cabinet, and the forerunner of the House of Assembly, the Colonial Parliament.

Mr. Allen, known as Mose, was a co-founder of the Progressive Labour Party and a successor to the founder of the Bermuda Industrial Union Dr. E.F. Gordon -- the Premier's father.

Also paying tribute to Sir Henry was Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness who said: "He made an enormous contribution to the development of our tourist industry.'' Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said: "Sir Henry was an architect of modern Bermuda who provided long and distinguished service to this House. He will be missed by the people of Bermuda.'' Information Minister John Barritt described Sir Henry as the "Godfather of tourism'' and Government whip Rick Spurling added: "Sir Henry was a close personal friend of my father's and a very remarkable man.'' Former BIU president Ottiwell Simmons paid tribute to Mr. Allen saying he was one of the successors to BIU founder Dr. Gordon.

"Mr. Allen was a tall man among giants when it came to politics. He was an inspiration.'' Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen described Mr. Allen as a "farsighted individual and Lois Browne Evans , a former PLP Leader, said Mr. Allen was to the black people of Bermuda what Sir Henry Tucker was to white people.

"He helped Dr. Gordon and he helped Bermudians. Without people like Mr. Allen there would not have been people like Dr. Gordon. Mr. Allen brought politics to the realm of the ordinary man,'' she said.

"He was a forward thinking man and he realised that unless party politics came to Bermuda there would be no way to get this House to agree on any political issue.'' MPs yesterday also sent congratulations to the new British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as the latest recruits to the House of Assembly, Kim Young and Michael Dunkley , who recently won by-elections for the UBP.