Bermuda's electoral system should have 23 single-seat constituencies, full-time politicians and elected parish councils and Senators, says Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafego, better known as Roosevelt Brown.

In his submission to the Boundaries Commission, the man who led the movement for universal adult suffrage in Bermuda also denounced the Corporation of Hamilton and St. George's as unconstitutional.

"To really democratise Bermuda, Bermuda should have elected members make up all the Senate, Parish Councils and the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's," he argues.

"One of the goals of the Committee for Universal Adult Suffrage was to remove the land vote...

"We have rightfully eradicated that practice in General Elections, however the Corporation elections are still based on ownership of land within the city limits of either. They are unconstitutional because the Bermuda Constitution talks about the voting age of 18, and not land franchising."

The rules state that only those who pay taxes to Hamilton or St. George's can vote or stand in Corporation elections.

According to Dr. Kamarakafego, the "main problem" of the political system is that Bermuda's politicians have always been part time.

"Bermuda could be efficiently served with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 25 full time politicians."

He adds that, based on his experience in other much larger countries, the Island needs at least five, but no more than seven Ministers.

"With full time politicians, all members will be much more accountable to the constituencies - the taxpayers of Bermuda.

They will not need to worry about their other jobs, that are also part time. My experience is that with part time politicians, a number of members have voted on the basis of their business. This is not proper and the voters deserve better."

He recommends 23 constituencies drawn to take into account parish boundaries as much as possible - with the number of constituencies in each parish reflecting the population.

Under his scheme, Pembroke would have five constituencies, Sandys three and St. George's two.

Three constituencies would take in parts of more than one parish.

He recommends that parish councils should be elected every two years on a parish wide basis and parish council members should not be allowed to sit in the Senate or House of Assembly.

"Parish councils would operate in much the same way as local government in other countries and meet once per week.

They should have autonomy to raise funds by any method they see fit, but should not be allowed to raise any form of taxes to raise funds... Members should receive a stipend, although not a salary."

The number of members in each parish council should reflect the parish's population, he says. And Government should provide two civil servants to run each parish.

On the Senate Dr. Kamarakafego suggests that each parish should elect a senator.