week for "breaching the Constitution''.

NLP chairman Mr. Geoff Parker said the Government Auditor had not commented on the Island's financial position in the past five years, despite the requirement of an annual report by the Constitution.

He was speaking on the economy last week at one of several forums to be held by the NLP leading up to the general election.

"The last report of the Auditor on the accounts of Bermuda covered the period of April 1, 1987 to March 31, 1988,'' Mr. Parker said.

"This means the Auditor has not been able to comment publicly on any financial position of Government for the past five years. The people of Bermuda should know what is being done with taxpayers' money.'' NLP leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell said this was not the first time the Auditor's report was five years late.

"This has been going on for 20-odd years,'' he said.

But Mr. Parker said it was time for it to stop.

Noting a general election is pending, he said: "We have not had a report since the year before the last election. We should demand these outstanding reports.

"But even when we get them, we will view them with suspicion because they are so old.'' Releasing an annual Budget "which is simply a statement of cash flow'' and economic review was not enough, Mr. Parker said.

And he questioned why the Opposition has not tried to do anything about it.

"I'm considering doing something in the next 48 hours,'' Mr. Parker said last night. "I know what steps can be taken. But I don't want to say anything before consulting the Party.'' The NLP made it clear that it wants a new Audit Act -- similar to that of Britain's in place before the House of Assembly rises for the general election.

Mr. Darrell recalled that a committee formed during Governor Viscount Dunrossil's term recommended the Auditor should be independent of the Finance Ministry and made an officer of Parliament.

"The report was produced and given to the select committee of the House which consisted of three UBP members, one PLP, and one NLP,'' he said.

"The committee met 27 times and had a consultant from Alberta (Canada) come in every month.

"The report recommended that we follow British procedure -- that the Auditor will be officer of the House and no longer responsible to the Finance Ministry.

"But when finally debated, the UBP rejected it and came with their own suggestion which set up an Audit committee made up of private individuals with the Finance Minister as an ex-officio member. This is not satisfactory.

Although we take no issue with the credibility of the individuals, appointed members could be supporters of the Government.'' Auditor Mr. Larry Dennis could not be reached for comment.