The Opposition has vowed to fight an alleged "drift toward one man rule" in the wake of the Premier's announcement a US public relations agency would be hired to restore Bermuda's international reputation.

And in an appeal to Premier Ewart Brown, Opposition Leader Kim Swan said: "Deal with the issues, stop complaining and start governing according to the spirit and rules of our democracy."

Mr. Swan made the appeal after a string of Government actions and announcements that have concerned him, the latest being Dr. Brown's statement that a top United States public relations team was required to "implement a media campaign to counter the destructive imagery promoted by the Opposition and its assembled media forces".

The Premier said it was his responsibility as Premier to protect the Island's reputation.

Yesterday Mr. Swan said the United Bermuda Party was also concerned that the Premier shut down a debate over tax breaks given to the Coco Reefs Resort when Mr. Swan characterised them as political paybacks.

Another concern was that parliamentary questions on the cost of Government travel would go unanswered after Speaker of the House Stanley Lowe threatened to ban MPs from questioning Ministers on anything they did in an old Parliament.

Mr. Swan alleged: "The Premier is currently trying to shut down questions about Government travel.

"This follows his shocking shutdown of the Coco Reef debate in the House, which we consider one of the most dangerous actions by a political leader in our modern Parliamentary history."

He continued: "This Premier wants to be free to do as he pleases, with no one holding him to account, with no one asking questions, with no rules to stop him.

"Bermuda does not work that way. Bermuda is a democracy of many parts.

"And as one of those parts — the Loyal Opposition — we will fight this drift toward one man rule with all the resources at our disposal."

Mr. Swan added the Premier had acknowledged Government travel was a concern when he announced a contract with American Express to help it reduce spending.