she was allegedly caught speeding is not acceptable, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said yesterday.

Mr. Dunkley said he had been flooded with calls after The Royal Gazette revealed that the Police had torn up a speeding ticket for the Telecommunications Minister and replaced it with a warning.

"I had a long talk with the Commissioner about this,'' Mr. Dunkley said. "A number of people have called about this, there's real concern as there is the apparent belief going around that Government Ministers are above the law.

"I don't care whether it's the PLP or the UBP. It's a Government Minister in a Government vehicle -- I believe you must lead by example.'' A Police spokeswoman had said the charges were dropped because of "procedural irregularities'' and a caution was issued instead.

Ms Webb said Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay had called her to inform her the Press had found out about the case and to warn her a reporter would be calling about the story.

Mr. Dunkley said: "For the Police to drop charges is not acceptable to the general motoring public, they can read anything into it -- that the charges were dropped because it's a Government minister.

"If anyone else was caught under this they would have gone to court and any procedural irregularities would have come out at that time.'' And Mr. Dunkley admitted that everybody made mistakes but he said Ministers should set standards.

"It's not on. I will lobby about this until the cows come home -- we want Ministers who are responsible and representative of the people.'' And he slammed Ms Webb for driving at speeds dangerous to the public in a car paid out of the public purse.

But Ms Webb said: "It could have been a Government or private vehicle, both had four wheels last time I checked.'' MP criticises Webb caution She denied she had been speeding at 70 kph and said the Police had failed to provide any proof.

She said: "I am human just like anyone else. Cabinet members speed just like anyone else. We get caught and booked like anyone else.

"But we expect to be treated fairly and we don't expect people to take advantage of the fact that I am a Cabinet Minister.

"I expect the Police to act with integrity and to deal with matters in confidence when dealing with the public.

"There was misconduct in the behaviour of the Police.'' She said the Police had apologised to her for the handling of the matter.

COURTS CTS