The United Bermuda Party has raised concerns about why people need the endorsement of their MP to submit suggestions for the naming of the Urgent Care Centre at Southside.

Senator Jeanne Atherden, Shadow Minister for Community and Cultural Affairs, said her party welcomed the invitation to the community to submit suggestions to inspire national pride and individual accomplishment.

But Sen. Atherden said there was concern that nominations require the formal endorsement of an MP on the standard form which also covers naming streets bridges and parks.

She said: "We believe this is a gross and unnecessary intrusion of politics and political control into a process that should be apolitical and concerns itself solely with drawing out the genuine will of people.

"We believe the endorsement clauses in the nomination forms should be removed."

In August 2007, in putting forward an approach to selecting national heroes, the UBP said all such initiatives should be free of politics said Sen. Atherden.

She added that Government should appoint a non-partisan Heroes Committee, whose members should be chosen from those known for their sound judgement and historical knowledge.

"That committee should develop, in consultation with the public, the criteria for judging who should be named a Bermuda hero. That committee should decide an appropriate form of commemoration.

"The Government should have the same right as all citizens and community groups that of suggesting names for consideration."

And Mrs. Atherden also said the requirement that nominators get sign-off from the families of nominees was "needlessly awkward, unnecessary and inhibiting".

Nominations should be allowed to go forward without such this requirement, she said.

Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler was unavailable for comment yesterday.

But Permanent Secretary Wayne Carey said: "The Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation will take the concerns expressed by Senator Jeanne Atherden under consideration."