the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

She rapped the station for suggesting that the Premier, the Hon. Sir John Swan, had been "disrespectful'' to the PLP and Bermuda by not offering advance warning of his current visit to Washington.

And she revealed it was the White House who had asked for no advance publicity about Sir John's trip to meet President Clinton.

VSB had questioned why there had been no press releases about the visit -- reported exclusively in The Royal Gazette yesterday.

The station said it flew in the face of open Government, describing it as "sinister'' for the paper to send a journalist to cover the visit.

And it predicted a House of Assembly outcry today from the Opposition because it was not informed.

But yesterday Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said: "I was a little concerned this morning by a rather dramatic news item which was carried by VSB News, which suggested the Premier had been disrespectful to the Opposition and to the Country by going to Washington to meet President Clinton.

"This is not correct in any respect. The Premier's visit is nothing more than a simple introductory visit to the new President, arranged at very short notice.

"While the Premier will undoubtedly try to raise issues during his visit which are of concern to Bermuda, it is unlikely that any substantive negotiations will take place at this stage.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said Sir John had discussed the trip with Cabinet colleagues -- but it was arranged at short notice.

"At the request of the White House, it was agreed that there should be no advance publicity about the meeting, perhaps reflecting Mr. Clinton's concern with domestic US issues.'' She added: "The Premier's visits to others in Washington are also more in the nature of calls which are designed to assist us to do business in Washington with the new administration.

"I believe it is Sir John's intention to make a statement about his visit upon his return.'' Yesterday Mr. David L. White, editor of The Royal Gazette , said: "The broadcast media has been getting hysterical because The Royal Gazette News Editor is in Washington.

"We did our job well. We learned the Premier was going to Washington and scrambled to get our News Editor on the plane.

"There is nothing sinister in the news business about a scoop. Given the important issues -- bases and taxes -- between the US and Bermuda today we simply wanted to be able to give the people of Bermuda the news.'' Mr. White added he had twice tried to telephone VSB -- and twice his call was refused.

Yesterday VSB News Director Mr. Chris Lodge said the calls had come through during live broadcasts. He declined to comment on Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto's statement.