The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) yesterday denied that it manipulated theatre boycott legend Kingsley Tweed for political gain, saying efforts had been made to bring him back to Bermuda well before the election, and that Rev. Tweed chose the election period himself to deliver his message to Bermudians.

"It wasn't the Progressive Labour Party that attempted to craft the significance and importance of Mr. Tweed in the theatre boycott. That history has already determined that.

"So we have not manufactured the image of Mr. Tweed in any way," said PLP spokesman Walter Roban.

Mr. Roban was asked to respond to letter writer Jonathan Dyer's allegation that the party had manipulated Rev. Tweed by bringing him home during election campaigning.

"By his own words the man was a thug who got found out and ran away," Mr. Dyer wrote.

"By re-scripting `hiding out' to read `political exile' the PLP has recast him as a modern day Robin Hood and to their discredit."

"We respectfully disagree with Mr. Dyer's opinion as well. We have not tried to cast him as a modern day Robin Hood. History has already cast Mr. Tweed in a particular role," Mr. Roban continued.

"We have, not only the PLP but members of his family and friends, been attempting to get Mr. Tweed to return to Bermuda and tell his story well before the election.

"The fact that Mr. Tweed chose to come home during the election period was his choice but we were happy to assist him to return to the home of his birth.

"So the fact that he came home during the election could be put down to some coincidence because we have been attempting to get him home before.

"But Mr. Tweed chose the election to deliver his message to Bermudians. And we did not craft it, we did not edit it or tell him what to say."

Mr. Dyer also questioned whether Rev. Tweed should be seen as a hero of the era.

"Who is Mr. Dyer to determine who are the heroes or that particular era? What gives him the right to do so?" Mr. Roban asked.

"He's ignoring the historical reality that has been openly expressed by the members of the Progressive Group in the video `When Voices Rise', that this was an era of fear and intimidation for many Bermudians. So Mr. Dyer is attempting to rewrite history that has already been acknowledged and recorded."