inside and outside the PLP camp.

In a double page advertisement in today's Royal Gazette the new Premier, in office less than a week, urged party extremists to "learn to stand their own ground while bending to the will of the majority''.

The Premier also suggested that the Civil Service could be in line for an overhaul and also reiterated her pre-election promise of no new taxes.

But the statement, which also set a conciliatory tone on the relationship between Government and the new Opposition, also drew the first broadside at the Premier's new regime -- from a former Progressive Labour Party member.

PLP maverick Phil Perinchief, who stood as an Independent candidate in last week's election, yesterday urged the Premier to put the question of Independence on the front burner immediately.

And he warned his former party colleagues not to be overcautious now that they had a massive majority in the House of Assembly and another five years to act before going to the polls.

Today's statement from the Premier reads: "There is a time for discipline: I have been firm with colleagues whose extreme views threatened to rip us apart.

There is a time for forgiveness: I say now, and in public, that the door will be open to them when they learn to stand their ground and yet bend to the will of the majority. Our Country -- and our party -- would be poorer without their energies.

"Our Country is run by a wonderful civil service which the rest of the world would envy. The rules and regulations which they implement keep us in shape.

But we all know that sometimes those rules turn into red tape which ties their hands. Bureaucracy does not function properly unless those who operate it are allowed an element of personal discretion.

"We've seen a flurry of grandiose initiatives of late. One of my first tasks as Premier will be to appoint a scissorman. He, or she, will identify and cut out crippling rigidity -- or pockets of sloppiness -- within our systems. We can all cite examples where valid principle has been taken to such an extreme that it defeats its own object.

"Do not let others mislead you. Our platform makes it clear and I guarantee it to you now: my Government will not -- repeat not -- impose income tax or Independence on you and we are no more against e-commerce than we are against writing. We work for you, not vice versa'' Referring to her UBP opponents, the Premier graciously said: "Now, as we come towards the tip of a new millennium and the end of an era there is a time too for soft words. No, not everything they did was an unmitigated disaster, Bermuda did not sink beneath the waves. And have they not had decent people along the way? Yes they have. Many were, or are, our friends, neighbours and relatives.'' Mr. Perinchief, on being told of the advert, said: "If the Premier doesn't bring this issue of Independence to the fore she is imposing the status quo, and therefore British citizenship, on the people.

"My view is that the PLP has control of the Government and they should now employ their best efforts to gain control of the Country by taking on the question of Independence in this term.

"As long as we are a tax haven and colony the threat of the OECD and European Union will continue. It's a question that they must meet head on and not attempt to side step or play semantics. It threatens more than 50 percent of our economy.'' He added that the new Government has the opportunity to strengthen its grasp on power if it can solve the Island's housing problem and reorganise the tax system.

Last night the Premier could not be contacted to respond to Mr. Perinchief's comments.

INDEPENDENCE IND