Clause 52 of the Bermuda Constitution provides that Pembroke be divided into 4 constituencies and the other 8 Parishes be divided into 2 constituencies and that each of these 20 constituencies return 2 members to the House of Assembly.

The well-established procedure for effecting an amendment to a clause such as our Clause 52 is for Parliament to pass a resolution requesting the Foreign Secretary to appoint three Constitutional Commissioners to carry out the job of ascertaining and evaluating opinion in Bermuda upon possible paths of constitutional evolution having regard to developments which have taken place since the adoption of the present Constitution.

The Constitutional Commissioners would come to Bermuda -- at our expense -- with a view to according every voter in Bermuda the right to have a say on this important issue. They would invite interested organisations and members of the public to present written and oral submissions and would arrange public meetings and media exposure as might be appropriate.

As a result of their deliberations the Constitutional Commissioners would probably recommend the repeal of our Section 52 and they would draft a substitute clause which would be submitted to the Bermuda Parliament and if approved would be sent to the Foreign Secretary requesting that an Order in Council be made to effect the desired amendment. The PLP government is right in saying that neither a referendum nor a constitutional conference is required to effect such an amendment and the UBP is wrong to press for either.

The PLP is wrong in trying to bring about their idea of how the Constitution should be amended without Bermudian voters having a say and the UBP is right in insisting that such input take place.

In the event that the correct procedure is followed I will make my views known to the Constitutional Commissioners which are that the number of members to be elected to the House of Assembly be reduced from 40 to 36 and that this be accomplished without upsetting the ancient Parish boundaries and by means of an electoral system based on Proportional Representation rather than First Passed the Post.