Former Deputy Governor Peter Lloyd criticised the top Foreign and Commonwealth Office delegate for leaving the constitutional talks on the first day, saying he could understand why some think Britain isn't taking the issue seriously.

Mr. Lloyd also criticised key reforms proposed by Premier Jennifer Smith and the way the process has been handled.

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) plans to empower a Boundaries Commission to introduce single seat constituencies and to reduce the number of MPs from 40 to no less than 20.

The PLP stated it placed electoral reform in its election manifesto, but Mr.

Lloyd said it was wrong for parties to think they can automatically change the constitution if they win an election just because it was in their platform.

And he warned against a substantial reduction in the number of MPs because it would leave too few backbenchers to stand up to the Cabinet.

Mr. Lloyd made the comments in submissions to the FCO team at Government House on Tuesday.

He told The Royal Gazette yesterday it was "unfortunate'' that the head of the FCO overseas territories department John White left on Monday on the first day of the talks.

"It is unfortunate that the lead delegate left so quickly because it can't have created a good impression,'' he said. "A lot of people have said to me that the UK Government, despite what they say, can't be taking the matter seriously, and I can understand why some people would feel that.

"It's a pity they haven't proceeded by way of a constitutional conference.

It's a decision that might later be regretted.

"I said I hoped they wouldn't consider them old fashioned and outmoded because they are a good way of giving the public at large an opportunity to learn what's happening because there is a long period of preparation during which time the subjects get publicly canvassed and aired.

"I said I thought it would be unfortunate if the impression was left on the public that a party that won an election, overwhelmingly or by a small margin, was entitled to expect the UK government to change the constitution because it is in its manifesto.

"The standard practice in almost every country I know about is to have detailed provisions in the constitution which lay down the way in which the constitution can be amended.

"Although it is not universal, the normal sort of provision is that there should be at least two thirds, and in some cases four fifths, of the legislature support before any amendments are approved and sometimes there is a referendum.

"If that's the standard practice, the public here ought to be made aware and realise that that's the standard practice.

"It's up to the UK, and the safeguard should be that the UK can be relied upon not to implement unreasonable and undemocratic amendments to the constitution.

"But people should know that it is not the case that an elected government can automatically insist on whatever changes it has in its manifesto.

"That said, I think single seat constituencies are perfectly reasonable even though I think proportional representation is more suited.

"I didn't think it wise, desirable or appropriate to empower a Boundaries Commission to decide the future size of the legislature.

"It may be fine to give them a small margin, as in the UK, on numbers, but in the UK a Boundaries Commission could not say `we'll cut the House of Commons to 400 or raise it to 800'. Here, to say anything between 20 and 40 doesn't seem to be a good idea.

"There ought to be included in the Constitution something reasonably precisely stating how many constituencies there should be. I don't think reducing the size of the House of Assembly substantially is a good idea.

"Maybe to 36 or 35, but significantly is not wise or popular. If you reduce the number substantially, you get to a point where unless you reduce the size of the Cabinet, virtually everyone who forms the Government is a minister, and that's not a good idea.'' When asked if he thought the FCO team would take on board all the views expressed, he said: "There were about half a dozen viewpoints contrary to one another and the most you can do is listen to them and decide.''