The perception that criticism of the Government is falling on deaf ears has caused one of Bermuda's longest running political blogs to close up shop.

And one of the Island's youngest bloggers is also uncertain if Bermuda is hospitable to political debate. Both men behind the blogs question whether opposition to Government must come from within the Progressive Labour Party, instead of outside critics.

Software Developer Phillip Wells, 34, started his blog 'Limey in Bermuda' in August 2003 and ended it indefinitely on Monday.

In his last posting he said: "I expected the electorate to send the PLP a message by, at a minimum, returning them to office with fewer seats and a lower percentage of the vote.

"Their failure to do so was a clear signal that there is no room for well-meaning criticism or thoughtful debate in Bermudian politics today. As such, I see little point continuing to blog."

Mr. Wells moved here with his Bermudian wife in June 2003 and created the blog as a way to keep his family and friends back in the UK updated with his new life. The site quickly became something else — a high traffic bulletin board of local politics and opinion.

He commented on a variety of topics on the blog including the Bermuda Housing Corporation, Independence, gangs and cricket. But he said he would no longer be posting because he felt it was futile for him to criticise the Government.

He wrote on his site: "The only people who can criticise today's PLP government are other members of the PLP.

"Anyone else should expect to have their criticisms met with an ad hominem attack, not with a reasoned rebuttal.

"If you're white, you will be accused of being a racist. If you're black, you will be accused of being a race traitor. If you're a non-Bermudian, you will be told to keep your mouth shut and go back to the country you came from. If you're a journalist, you'll be accused of being in league with the UBP.

"If you're in the UBP, you'll be accused of wanting to take the country back to the days of segregation, or even slavery.

"I have no desire to participate in such a dysfunctional system any longer. Indeed, I've come to believe that by continuing to criticise the government, I will only make things worse."

He also recommended that the United Bermuda Party disband. "It's a radical prescription and not without its risks," he said. "But taking away most of the opposition to the PLP is, I believe, the best way to encourage those within the party to hold it to account."

One of the youngest bloggers in Bermuda, 25-year-old Dennis Pitcher, also said he was unsure about his future on the Island's blogshere. Mr. Pitcher took a break after the December 18, his blog, '21 Square Mile', specialised in compiling and presenting economic data as well as commenting on political events.

He credited "the run up to and subsequent results of the recent election" with leaving him "disillusioned with politics".

He wrote: "Contrary to the opinions held by some, this blog and others like it do not exist simply for the purpose of criticising the Progressive Labour Party. In the very least, they exist as a means of offering alternative perspectives and ideas that hopefully will assist in making Bermuda a better place.

"That, in the end, is this blogs true purpose. The problem, however, is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to assess whether blogging really encourages positive change or instead is little more than a case of a preacher preaching to the converted."