Q: There was a poll in one of the media outlets this week giving you a favourable public approval rating, can you comment on that?

A: "I am aware of the poll, once I read a couple of lines I was satisfied.

Polls show you the feeling of the people at that time. As someone who has been in politics since 1972 - am I surprised that over a certain amount of time they remain the same - no. I would expect them to remain fairly static throughout the time, because I think that I know the people of Bermuda, and I would think that they know me.

I have been in politics a long time and I have never changed. But depending on what has happened - will there be highs and lows - of course there will be. But just as I could not get depressed about the previous quarter when it said that my popularity was low, neither can I get overly excited at this swing in the other direction. There will be swings.

I think what is far more realistic is to look at it over time. The previous poll was done in May when we were discussing the changes to the Constitution and how we were going about the route to set up the Boundaries Commission to look at how one could go about single seat constituencies. We were being accused of all kinds of strange and terrible things - so you'll be aware that in July having asked for a Judicial Review, that the Judicial Review was thrown out and costs were awarded.

You'll be aware that the judgement was made public, and on the 21st of August the Order in Council was in fact enacted. Since which, the Governor has in fact established the Boundaries Commission. So I think that most people over a period of time of events have been reflective. But I think that polls reflect the feeling of the time. But if you want to get an overall understanding, it's best to look at it over a period of time."

Q: What is your response to criticism of not being visible as a leader after September 11 events?

A: "What I said then is what I will say now. We were doing some strategic behind the scenes urgent planning to ensure the safety and security of Bermuda and Bermudians.

The fact is that on the 11th of September, we adjourned Cabinet. We called an EMO meeting and we were faced with several immediate circumstances that required attention. Such as the fact that all air space into the US and Canada was closed and the fact that all planes were being told to land.

All planes had to immediately get out of the sky and land at the closest and nearest available land mass. Bermuda in that case was receiving a number of flights and these people would need to be housed. We did not know for how long those planes would be in Bermuda and because all flights out of Bermuda had been stopped.

We also had the problem of people who were due to leave Bermuda and they had to be housed. We had the World Congress members here and they were due to leave on that day - so not only did we have guests that needed to be housed, but we had some very special guests. Our next tasks were trying to find out what Bermudians might be caught up in this and what could be done for them.

We were in contact with the UK and the ambassador, making sure that they knew there might be Bermudians coming there, also contacting our Tourism office to see if they can be available to make some kind of announcement to people who may have been stranded overseas. This was a very uncertain time, people couldn't leave Bermuda and Bermudians couldn't come home. They may not have had emergency funds with them or an ability to sustain themselves for an indefinite period after their planned return.

But we did the things that had to be done and things that you do not necessarily need to make an announcement about. However, we did make an announcement that very day, we held a press conference from the EMO headquarters. Why people don't seem to remember that I don't know.

We held a press conference again the next day, we gave a statement again. And within the 11 days leading up to my trip, we had meetings with the American Consul General, a meeting with the Governor, issued another press statement, we talked with the Opposition and accepted their request for my Ministers to meet with them, we had met with our caucus and went over the steps we had taken, we had been to the Ecumenical Service - all this within the 11 days.

I recognised that people wanted something to happen. But just because people wanted something to happen because it is an uncertain time - you're watching these things, you don't know what it means, you want somebody to reassure you, just because I have that very real need, doesn't necessarily, mean that it has to be met by the certain person people were insisting that it needed to be met by. I went out on the first day, I went out on the succeeding days, but we also had the Minister of Home Affairs go out, the Minister of Finance go out, we had several other Ministers speak out as well. This is not a presidency, it is not just me, I have a team - in the immediate aftermath of these events, you did not immediately see the President of the US or Mayor of New York. They were involved in very similar meetings dealing with the immediate things that they would have to put in place to deal with prior to them having the ability to go out and say something. I find it very difficult - some people may not - but I find it very difficult say something when I don't have anything to say. Until I had the facts at my hand, I was not going to say anything. And when I had a few facts, all I could say was that. As we knew more, we put the information out as soon as we had it. We had a duty to give Bermudians factual information. I could not give information if we did not any facts at hand.

Yes, one could say be calm, but it may not have been appropriate to be calm, maybe we should have been watchful. So I am not going to say be calm if I don't know if those are the correct words, that a leader should be saying to her country.

As it was, the subsequent fears were something that we needed to be vigilant of. The only thing that I have found that gives me some basis for understanding is to look at how the previous generation conducted itself through the last world war. At certain times there was death and destruction and devastation - they managed to have a very human response and make solid preparation for protection while continuing to keep the some sense of humanity in their lives. And I think that we all need to look at that.

Q: Any comment on the criticism of travel to UK and Washington D.C. 11 days after the September 11 events?

A: I didn't go off on a jaunt and I would expect that having earned a reputation in Bermuda from 1972, until now, I expect people to consider that I had some sense and that I am a truthful person.

I deemed it wise for me to go along with my plans and for my Deputy - Eugene Cox - a very able, capable and experienced politician who did an admirable job in my absence and the remainder of my team to carry on.

I was committed to go to the Overseas Territory Consultative Council meeting, which is held annually - and the meeting was made even more urgent by the September 11 events. Every single one of the territories, had concerns about the impact - that was on the agenda. Why, because we don't yet know the full impact, economically or not, of this event. And we may have to act in consulate or seek some other help through the UK depending on what may transpire. As a direct result of that meeting, the UK Government has set up a taskforce who are supposed to report by the end of this month on the possibilities of what might exist, what has happened to date since the impact, what the future impact might be or of what assistance the UK Government might be able to offer to the territories.

But there are several things that had come out of that meeting. I think that it would have been gross negligence on my part not to go to a meeting that concerned Bermuda's future with Bermuda's administrative power.

The Environmental Charter was signed in that meeting, which has been tabled in the House and out of that has become a training pact for students - I also believe that Bermuda will be co-host with the UK in the year 2003, over another environmental conference.

I didn't just go to a meeting with anyone. I went to the Minister of the Overseas Territories - Baroness Amos. I had an opportunity to speak with other Ministers and members of the Labour Party on matters that concerned Bermuda.

It was a bad time for the entire world, it wasn't just a bad time for Bermuda. Let's put this in context. I realise that we are an hour and a half away from the US - and as close as we feel that kinship with the US - and yes many of us have family connections - but 80 countries around the world were impacted, not just Bermuda."

Q: Thoughts about new UBP candidates such as Sen. Santucci and Jamahl Simmons. Any thoughts about the UBP actively recruiting a certain kind of Bermudian to appeal to the voters?

A: "I am not at all surprised that a political party that is still in existence, that plans to contest in the next General Election, has picked up two new members in the last three years. I'm not surprised and I am certainly not surprised that they are seeking more members. If I was in their position I would certainly hope to have a better rate of joining up than two or three years.

You'll have to wait and see if there are any new faces being injected into the PLP - but I would hope to think that people are not so jaded that you would consider the eight people that are serving in Parliament for the first time are old. We do have a plethora of young and new members, but I don't know how many seats will be contested, pending on the results of the Boundaries Commission. So, I certainly cannot announce any new candidates until I know that. It is far too early to speculate on something until I know that.

My members are certainly well known. They got well known at a very young age. But just because they are well known and seem to have been around for a long time and seem to have been very involved in events for a long time doesn't make them old. The fact remains they are new candidates serving their first term in Parliament. I am not surprised that the Opposition is on a campaign to drum up new members, I would expect them to do that and I would expect them to do it over the next two years. I am not surprised that some people joined."

Q: Do you think the voting public have become complacent with the PLP Government?

A: "Complacent, certainly not. In fact I think that we have a very vibrant, involved public. They are following events and affairs quite avidly. They have an opinion on every issue that exists, they are not afraid to state that opinion and are not afraid to state that opinion to any of us. I think that is to be applauded, because it was not too long ago that people would not give their name when they were saying something to Government - they had to remain anonymous and would not stand up and be counted. Now, you hold any kind of a public meeting, people can get up and say just about anything. So, I think it is a very exciting time in Bermuda."

Q: What's happening with the Census?

A: "We are expecting the first portion of it to be available by the end of December and as far as I know, it is still on target. The remainder of it will be released next year. There has already been a statement made on that as well."

Q: Can you comment on Minister David Allen's comments on David Dodwell's hotel allegedly `going bust' - and the fact that he benefited from the Hotel Concessions Act. Some people feel that some disciplinary action should be taken - do you agree?

A: "There was nothing wrong with the Minister's comments. I was in the House when the comments were made. The comment that I heard was nothing for the Minister to be disciplined about. They had spoken - and the Minister was given the inclination that the Shadow Minister's hotel was in need of assistance. In other words, the culminative sum of the things said to Minister Allen in their conversation led him to believe that if he didn't proceed with this Bill to give his hotel the relief promised under this Act, then this would happen - that his hotel would suffer. The things the Shadow Minister said led him to believe that. I believe the Minister was called more than once by the Shadow Minister, I believe he had a visit - if you were not concerned or not interested you would not have persisted. Minister Allen spoke of his impression which was based on the Shadow Minister's actions at the time and that is perfectly correct. He did it within the context of that Shadow Minister saying `no that Act has not benefited anyone'. Am I going to discipline a Minister for something that has been distorted and attributed to him - no."

Q: Do you agree with MP Delaey Robinson's support of income tax in the Island?

A: "The party has a position on income tax. It has been well enunciated - the PLP will not introduce income tax. But I'm sure you can always find individual members who have individual things that they care about - I have concerns in education and cultural affairs, but not all of my suggestions have I been able to get my party to adopt."

Q: There are close to three dozen pieces of legislation that will be put through in this legislative session. Is there any one piece that is of particular interest to you?

A: I am personally looking at the Statistics Bill - that falls under Cabinet and I am responsible for Cabinet. I will be personally looking to push that through."

Q: Do you have any reassuring words for those who have been hit hard in these economic times?

A: "Certainly the events of September 11 have caused us all to pause and reflect - I have much care and concern for the wellbeing of the people of this country - and I don't wish to see people going unclothed or unfed. We are still carefully assessing the impact, but the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Health have been charged with making sure that there are initiatives in place to assure that members of the public can receive assistance. And we want people who are having difficulties finding jobs to seek assistance with our employment council - certainly this Government does not want to see anyone in distress."