Opposition Public Safety spokesman Michael Dunkley has questioned why Premier Ewart Brown feels the need for armed guards to follow him around.

Several informed sources have told The Royal Gazette the Premier's two plainclothes Police minders are routinely equipped with concealed pistols.

And Mr. Dunkley also said he understood Dr. Brown was still being tailed by armed Policemen for public appearances.

"If that is the case, obviously the Premier at this point must be concerned for his safety or be advised of danger by others and obviously we want him to be safe.

"But I can't believe the Premier is in so much danger that he needs armed guards to follow him when he's in Bermuda.

"He said other Premiers had not been that frightened about their safety and that former PLP Premiers Alex Scott and Jennifer Smith did not have bodyguards during their terms in office.

"As far as I know we never had it previously," added Mr. Dunkley.

But Mr.Dunkley added that he thought the heightened security came from the infamous 'bullet sent to the Premier' story which surfaced less than a week before the election.

"It is my belief that the bullet incident was a concocted story," he said. "I think maybe all this stems from that incident.

"My belief is further heightened by the fact that months have gone by and we have not heard conclusive results about what actually said took place.

"I am Shadow Minister for Public Safety and want to make sure all Bermudians are safe. But in this case, I feel it is getting a little bit out of hand.

"Earlier this month Police said they were continuing investigations.

Police have refused to comment on theories about who was behind the threat. Investigators are awaiting forensic examination results.

Public Safety Minister David Burch had announced security would be stepped up around Dr. Brown after a press conference on December 11 announced a threat had been levelled at the Premier.

It came after a package containing a bullet and threatening letter addressed to the Premier were said to be discovered at the Airport sorting office although Sen. Burch did not confirm it at the time and it has never officially been confirmed since.

When armed guards were assigned to the Premier it appeared to be the third time the Premier's security arrangements had been stepped up since he took over in late 2006.

A year ago he was given a plainclothed Police officer to guard him while out in public due to previous security scares, including a man who had a past conviction for causing bodily harm allegedly accosting Dr. Brown while in possession of a box cutter and Police dealing with a drunk who demanded to see Dr. Brown at the Cabinet office

.And in the first months of his Premiership, Dr. Brown took on a personal bodyguard after Sen. Burch said it had been called for by a threat assessment.

It made Premier Brown virtually unique among leaders in the British territories in the Caribbean region, with only the Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick having a Government leader with personal bodyguards.

Premier Brown's spokesmen have always declined to comment on whether he has armed security.

Asked yesterday whether the armed security for Dr. Brown would be permanent fixture the Premier's press spokesman Glenn Jones said:"I am not empowered to talk about the Premier's security.

"It's a Police matter, they make all the decisions so I don't know what the future holds.

"A Police spokesman said: "For obvious reasons the Bermuda Police Service doesn't comment on security details of the Premier."