chair a Cabinet committee dealing with the closure of the US Naval Air Station.

Mr. Pearman, who is also Deputy Premier, said yesterday he would chair the committee under Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

The other members are Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess, Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, and Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

The committee had met and visited the Base since the closure was announced, Mr. Pearman said.

The Premier would handle the international aspects of the closure and was arranging a visit with officials in the United States "in the not too distant future,'' Mr. Pearman said.

Before attempts could be made to train Bermudians to perform Airport jobs now performed by the Navy, "we've got to determine what the requirements are going to be,'' he said.

"I can assure the public ... the civil air aspects of it will continue without a hiccup,'' he said.

The US Congress has said no Department of Defence funds are to be spent on the US Naval Air Station after September 1, 1995. The Secretary of Defence is to submit a closure plan by next March 1.

The US Defence Authorisation Bill also says the Department of Defence may provide support for airfield operations after September 1, 1995, but "any such support shall be provided only on a reimbursable basis''.

Government has talked about exploring cost sharing with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and others.