she called him a liar on TV.

Alex Scott, the Progressive Labour Party's Home Affairs spokesman, last night demanded an apology from the Premier for remarks she made during a ZBM news broadcast.

Mr. Scott's lawyer, Michael Scott, wrote to Ms Gordon demanding a public apology "for a grave and politically motivated slander'' by December 17.

He said Alex Scott had given instructions to issue legal proceedings unless an apology was received.

And the Shadow Minister told The Royal Gazette last night: "I was accused of uttering a blatant lie and there can be no doubt that the person who utters a lie is a liar.

"It wasn't a case of saying I dealt in misinformation, or handled the truth loosely or didn't think before I spoke.

"Any of that would have been acceptable because we know there's cut and thrust in politics.'' The controversy surrounds an interview given by Ms Gordon following Mr.

Scott's remarks that three cabinet ministers were behind the resignation of former Police Commissioner Colin Coxall.

Mr. Scott had said he received information that a cabinet minister had met Mr.

Coxall at Police headquarters and demanded the return of a personal document.

The Shadow Minister said Government revealed soon afterwards that the Police Commissioner would not remain in his post.

Mr. Scott said last night: "It's now been confirmed that our information is all but solid and that a third member of Cabinet was involved in this affair.'' Mr. Scott refused to reveal any names publicly.

But he said Ms Gordon gave a TV interview saying he had uttered "a blatant lie''.

She added that it was "irresponsibility'' and Mr. Scott "would have to back it up with facts or he would have to make an apology''.

The Premier was unavailable for comment last night.

Deputy Premier Jerome Dill told The Royal Gazette : "The most appropriate thing is for the Premier to comment and therefore I am unable to say anything.'' Environment Minister Irving Pearman, who was at the centre of a Police investigation started by Mr. Coxall, said: "I think it's an utterly ridiculous situation.'' Mr. Pearman was exonerated after two of his cheques were found on suspected drug dealers arrested as part of Operation Cleansweep.

Mr. Coxall had ordered an inquiry but it later emerged that the cheques were for jobs carried out at his house.

The lawyer's letter to Ms Gordon, obtained by The Royal Gazette , said the Premier's words were "calculated to impute Mr. Scott in his political office''.

It added that her statement "went on to defame Mr. Scott personally by your imputation that this Member of Parliament is a liar and that he knowingly made a statement which he knew to be a `blatant lie' for a purely political purpose and in order to fuel what you describe as `political fires'.'' The letter added: "Our client is entitled to claim aggravated damages for the context in which you chose to utter these words and your motivation for so uttering the offending words, that is to say for a political purpose.

"Accordingly this is to inform you that unless Mr. W. Alex Scott JP MP receives an unqualified public apology and retraction of the allegations contained in your statement, on or before December 17, 1997, we have instructions to issue proceedings against you on his behalf for slander, without any further notice to you.'' Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette that he demanded an apology on the floor of the House of Assembly but did not hear back from the Premier.

He added: "Her reaction on the television was extraordinary. It stung and it hurt.

"She went as far as to say I knew better as a senior member and I couldn't back this up because it was `a blatant lie'.

"I thought it was slanderous at the time and a lawyer has confirmed it.'' He said he had already accepted an apology from a senior ZBM executive.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA