"malicious and mischievous'' attack on his character last week.

Mr. Smith was referring to Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown's allegations in the House of Assembly last Wednesday that he "was more interested in the ethnicity'' of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital CEO Stephanie Reid than in her qualifications.

According to Dr. Brown, the United Bermuda Party MP shouted out: "What about the Jamaican woman?'' during a debate in the House sometime last year.

But in a letter, dated March 3, to Ms Reid, and copied to The Royal Gazette , Mr. Smith said: "What Dr. Brown alleges is malicious and mischievous and I can only guess as to his motives in attempting to malign my character.'' He continued: "I can say without hesitation that I did not make any derogatory or offensive statement regarding your (Ms Reid's) qualifications or ethnicity.'' Mr. Smith said the comments he had made were in response to a speech by a Government Minister "who boasted about the PLP commitment to Bermudianisation''.

"I interpolated at the time: `You mean like a Jamaican CEO at the hospital,' and, placed in the context to which I was referring, it is clear that I was not referring to ethnicity at all.'' Mr. Smith also expressed anger at the fact that Dr. Brown made the accusation when he was out of the chamber. He added that his attempts to explain his position in the House had been denied by "the PLP chairman''.