It's time for former Premier Jennifer Smith to "get out" of The Laurels, the United Bermuda Party (UBP) said yesterday.

In its first major statement about Ms Smith's continued stay at her former official residence, the party dismissed Premier Alex Scott explanations about the need for a security review of the Premier's present and possible future living arrangements.

The statement also reminded this newspaper that Ms Smith had not given former Premier Pamela Gordon any flexibility with her housing arrangements when she took over the Government in 1998, but instead asked her to pay back a portion of her housing allowance.

Ms Smith, who went on holiday immediately after resigning the Premiership three weeks ago, is still occupying The Laurels - her official residence while in office.

Premier Scott said last week that he had requested a review of her security arrangements adding that there was some precedence for the Premier to stay on at an official residence for three months after leaving office.

Mr. Scott added that he will make an announcement as to when she will be leaving the residence after he has discussed the review with Ms Smith and she has been able to find suitable alternative accommodations.

He stressed that he, not the former Premier, had requested the security review and that Ms Smith had not asked to stay at The Laurels. As a former Premier he felt she should be treated "appropriately".

"I didn't want to cast her out without any protection... It's not unique to myself. I know the US have the same approach... Obviously the US and Bermuda are two different entities. But I guess I wanted to err on the side of caution."

Ms Smith is believed to be back on the Island, but Mr. Scott is away on official business.

"It is alarming that Premier Scott elects to choose an emotional appeal to the public concerning The Laurels, and the supposed safety of deposed Premier Smith," said Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin.

"Is he suggesting that under the PLP government they have encouraged such a lawless society that such a high profile person is in jeopardy ?"

Ms Gordon-Pamplin, a sister of Pamela Gordon, said that no precedence had been established regarding the Premier's residence because all former Premiers except Pam Gordon had lived in their own homes.

Ms Gordon lived in the Victoria Street family homestead when she became Premier, but Police said it was unsuitable for security purposes and she moved into a Tamarind Vale property.

"The refusal of the Permanent Secretary to sign the lease for the property that she found in Tamarind Vale resulted in her signing her own lease and the government subsequently approved a housing allowance," Ms Gordon-Pamplin reminded this newspaper.

"This allowance has also been afforded to Ms Smith.

"It is a fact that on November 16, 1998, one week after the general election of November 9,1998, the now deposed Premier caused a letter to be written to Ms Gordon requesting a refund of the monthly housing allowance pro-rated with effect from November 10 to the end of November. All of this was done with the concurrence of the former Minister of Works and Engineering who is now the Premier."

She added that with Ms Smith now having been "booted out" of office "the new Premier has determined that the rules that applied to Pam Gordon can be waived under the guise of security."

"Now that the shoe is on the other foot, the taxpayers are asked to be considerate. I certainly trust that, at the very least, the terms of the lease and the payment required by the former Premier are made public."

She added "Unless Ms Smith is deemed to be the Idi Amin of Bermuda, the self-proclaimed leader for life who must sponge off of the taxpayers, she and the PLP Government must recognise that the residence goes with the job. She no longer holds the job. She needs to get out."