labelled an overseas politician by declaring: "Let the voters decide who should represent them.'' And Progressive Labour Party leader Mr. Frederick Wade also parried the criticism from Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

"It is absolute rubbish,'' he said.

Mr. Wade described Dr. Brown as a Bermudian from an "illustrious'' family and claimed he had been driven to practice medicine overseas by the United Bermuda Party.

Dr. Brown came under fire following a speech last week at a PLP rally in which he called the UBP politically dead, accused Government of being unable to control the Police, and described health care as a mess.

Dr. Brown, a Bermudian who until recently lived and mainly practised medicine in the United States, cited Bob Marley lyrics and Malcolm X quotations.

But Mr. Edness, whose Warwick West seat could be contested by Dr. Brown, was quick to hit back.

He warned Bermudians to beware "fast-talking'' politicians-to-be, particularly those from California.

Mr. Edness said voters should ask the doctor: Where will you represent me, in California or Bermuda? Yesterday Dr. Brown, who has a Los Angeles clinic, stressed he did not want to be drawn into a "ping pong'' contest with Mr. Edness.

"We, in my campaign organisation, are happy that Mr. Edness has responded and the campaign has officially begun.

"We will present to the voters all of the information they need to decide who should represent them. We will abide by their decision.'' Dr. Brown, who is living with his mother in Hamilton Parish, said his wife, Priscilla, and three children had flown over to Bermuda to help him house hunt.

He pointed out he has spent more time on the Island since January -- roughly two and a half weeks a month.

"I do travel a lot to Los Angeles, Jamaica and Washington, for instance.'' Dr. Brown said he had applied for "active staff privileges'' at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

This would entitle him to be treated like any other doctor permanently living in Bermuda.

Currently he has to get someone to co-admit a patient to hospital.

"At present I have got what is called courtesy staff privileges,'' he explained.

Mr. Wade was yesterday dismissive of Mr. Edness' criticism, and accused him of "panicking'' and "stooping to tarnish'' Dr. Brown's name.

"He is speaking absolute nonsense. Dr. Brown resides in Bermuda and Mr.

Edness has no right to deny him the right to put himself forward as a candidate.'' Mr. Wade said the UBP had effectively forced Dr. Brown to practice overseas.

It stemmed from Dr. Brown's involvement in the students' civil rights movement in the 1960s, he added.

Mr. Hume Martin, executive director of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said doctors had to spend the "majority'' of their time on the Island to win "active staff priveleges''.

Successful applicants also had to take on certain responsibilities, including participation in the hospital's education programme.