A select committee should be named to look into needed changes to Bermuda's Constitution, Opposition Leader Frederick Wade said yesterday.

The committee should look into constitutional issues that arose during the run-up to the recent Independence referendum, as well as rules that figure in the recent controversy surrounding the eligibility of Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ewart Brown to sit in Parliament, Mr. Wade said.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr. Wade served notice of his motion to establish the committee, which would pay special attention to "the electoral system, the franchise and the qualification for members of the legislature and any other changes it deems necessary for the true democratisation of Bermuda''.

Issues raised during the Independence debate included single-seat constituencies, electoral boundaries drawn outside parish boundaries, and removal of the foreign vote, Mr. Wade said outside the House of Assembly.

There was also a need to "remove any ambiguities regarding the qualification of members to stand for Parliament'', he said. "I have in mind the Dr. Brown situation.'' The House Rules and Privileges Committee has been meeting recently over the eligibility of Dr. Brown, who obtained US citizenship in 1990 and was subsequently elected MP for Warwick West in 1993.

The Bermuda Constitution states that anyone who has pledged allegiance to a foreign power is ineligible to seek election to the House.

"We think Dr. Brown hasn't done anything incorrect, but there is another school of thought,'' Mr. Wade said. "Since Government itself (as outlined in Independence position papers) supports dual citizenship, I would expect Government to support a Bermudian who has dual citizenship being able to run for Parliament.'' He noted Bermudians born in other countries are able to sit in Parliament, since they did not obtain their citizenship by pledging allegiance to a foreign power.

Opposition MPs served notices of other motions yesterday.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith served notice of her motion that the House rejects Government's plan to move Dellwood Primary School to the present site of Northlands Secondary School.

Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome served notice of his motion that the plan to locate the National Sports Centre in Devonshire be reviewed in light of the return of the American Base lands.

Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Ms Renee Webb gave notice of her motion that the House take note of the urgent need for effective rehabilitation programmes at Westgate Correctional Centre in order to reduce recidivism and crime in the community.

Shadow Labour Minister Mr. Alex Scott gave notice of his motion that the House provide legislation to remedy "the growing problem of wrongful dismissal''.