over the manner in which she sensationally defected to the Opposition last week.

And she has also hinted she may be willing to step down as a candidate in the forthcoming General Election and instead work in a behind-the-scenes capacity for the PLP.

In a candid interview with The Royal Gazette yesterday, Mrs. Bell, MP for St.

George's South since 1985, said her defection to the PLP fold last Friday had completely wrong-footed Premier Gordon.

She confirmed that she had met with the Premier less than 24 hours before her crossover -- but failed to mention her intentions.

"I should have said something to the Premier on Thursday night,'' she said.

"It would have been better if I had telephoned her but I didn't want it to be leaked to the press. I should have told her but I didn't and I apologise. It's something I feel bad about.'' Premier Gordon was left with egg on her face when quizzed about the matter on the eve of the opening session of Parliament.

"I'm very sure that if Mrs. Bell had any difficulties such as this rumour suggests she would have come to me,'' she said.

When asked if she would be contesting a seat for the PLP after being ousted from her constituency on Wednesday, Mrs. Bell would only say that a decision had yet to be made.

But she added: "My new leader knows that I am a valuable person -- I'm a good organiser and I will serve in whatever way I can. But I began to feel tired during a period of chronic fatigue and some people said I had lost touch -- you just never know what's going to happen.'' Mrs. Bell refused to comment on remarks made by fellow PLP MP Jimmy Williams that she was about to be ejected from the Government because of her declining popularity.

But she scotched claims that Mr. Williams was making a full recovery from an undisclosed illness.

"Jimmy Williams is a very sick man,'' she said.

Mr. Williams has been in hospital for the last six weeks and party workers have so far failed to confirm that he will be defending his seat at the next election.

Explaining her move Mrs. Bell said she had become disenchanted with her former party about four years ago.

And she believes the PLP will be far more dynamic in creating a fairer society for all Bermudians if it seizes power.

"The independence referendum was a real eye opener for me,'' she said.

Bell says sorry to Premier "Some people in the UBP behaved very badly over that issue. Perhaps I should have moved sooner but I just didn't have the courage. This thing has just been gradually evolving in me.

"I also think that what the Government is doing now to stop unfairness in our society is too little too late -- its all at the eleventh hour.

"I want to be involved in shaping the future of a new Bermuda, a fairer Bermuda, which I think the PLP will provide. I know it's going to be a lot more dynamic on human rights issues.'' Mrs. Bell said that her former UBP colleagues had generally treated her kindly since her defection.

"One person did give me an indifferent look but generally they have been fine,'' she said.

"I knew this wasn't going to be easy and it was particularly hard on the first day but I wish the Premier and the UBP well.

"But I am confident that we will win the next election. I don't know when that's going to be -because I wasn't a minister I don't know these things. -- but things are changing.'' Last night UBP stalwart Quinton Edness, a close friend of Mrs. Bell, dismissed her reason for leaving the party as an excuse.

"I don't buy into that argument,'' he said.

"The Government is very strong on human rights -- we were the ones that set up the commission and we have programmes that look after the protection of the individual.

"Mrs. Bell was deputy chairman of the party caucus and had an influential position. She was voted in to bring about change to improve the welfare of the people. If she is just going to blame everyone else for not bringing about change that just shows her own ineffectiveness. Putting forward these excuses is only going to harm her credibility.'' `I accept it would have been better if I had telephoned the Premier Pamela Gordon but I didn't want it leaked to the press' Grace Bell: Apologetic