Opposition senator Jeanne Atherden accused Government of "politricks" and "double speak" yesterday for giving conflicting statements about a redrawn electoral map which needs to be approved by Parliament.

But last night Dr. Brown rejected the criticism, suggesting that the Opposition believed he would call an early election. The new Boundaries Commission map — which would give a number of MPs an uphill battle retaining their seats — was tabled in May by Premier Ewart Brown but was not debated before the House of Assembly adjourned for the summer.

Dr. Brown told the Opposition during the last sitting of the House in July that an election could not be called until the map had been approved and accepted.

The Royal Gazette asked his acting press secretary for clarification and was given a comment from "a Government spokesperson" which said the Premier's remark should not be relied upon and an election could be called on the basis of the old map.

Last night, Dr. Brown said: "My comment in the House was meant to tell the Opposition that there would be no election this Summer. I cannot understand what is so difficult to comprehend.

"When I told the United Bermuda Party that there would be no election this summer, I was simply telling the truth. If there is any deception, it comes through their habit of twisting everything I say."

Sen. Atherden told the Upper Chamber she was "really disappointed" that the report of the Boundaries Commission was not debated in the House and said it was important to bring honesty back into politics.

She suggested that "politricks" — i.e. politicians tricking the public — was at play and that the Island was in an "era of double speak".

Attorney General Kim Wilson asked whether the UBP politician could attribute the statement about an election still being able to be called to anyone.

Sen. Atherden said: "The media did attribute it to a particular Government spokesperson."

She added that she hoped the report would be debated at the earliest opportunity, adding that Bermuda needed to get to a point where the public could believe what politicians told them.

Government senator Walton Brown said Sen. Atherden's comments puzzled him, since the Boundaries Commission report was a statutory requirement under the Constitution and would provide the basis for electoral boundaries in any future election.

"To assume anything other, based on unattributed sources in the media, is wholly irresponsible," he said. "I have no idea what has motivated this comment, other than a more base approach to politics which, to use my colleague's term, amounts to politricks. This is a non-contentious matter of realignment of boundaries."

Opposition Senate leader Michael Dunkley asked: "If it was so uncontentious, and the House met for an extended period of time, why wasn't it taken up?"

Government Senate Leader David Burch replied: "I believe the Government followed the law. There is no great urgency and there is no great mystery." He said MPs had dealt with more legislation "than you could shake a stick at" and warned against relying on this newspaper for information.

"If you use the daily as your only source of information, I really want to say you are letting the devil use you," he claimed. They oftentimes have got it wrong."