The United Bermuda Party has used a full-page newspaper advertisement to claim Government does not care what people think of its plans to reform the Constitution.

The ad in yesterday's Royal Gazette listed seven points which it said showed Government was scared of consulting the people and had "rammed through'' proposed changes.

The ad -- `How to Change Your Constitution the PLP Way' -- stated Premier Jennifer Smith told the House of Assembly on February 18 this year that she had no plans for constitutional change in the next 12 months, yet six months later she announced she wanted to reform the Constitution.

The seven points in the advert include a letter from the Premier asking voters to tell their MPs their views about the changes, which were delivered to homes "after you have rammed the changes through Parliament''.

Government had expected the Opposition to organise public meetings over the summer, but then "backtracked'' because Baroness Scotland, the Foreign Office minister reponsible for Overseas Territories, had warned it there needed to be "demonstrable'' consultation.

The advertisement also claims the panels at the public meetings were stacked with PLP supporters.

Referring to how the Premier allegedly treated questioners at the meetings, the advertisement adds: "Be sure to ridicule anyone whom you think asks a stupid question or challenges what you are doing.'' It ends by echoing the statement of the Premier's Chief of Staff, Colonel David Burch: "Now we know...They really don't care what you think.'' The Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun offered both parties free adverts to explain their views on constitutional change.

Progressive Labour Party public relations officer Corey Butterfield said the advert contained "misinformation'' and alleged the UBP showed an "ignorance of Parliamentary procedures''.

He said the PLP had chosen to try to "educate the public'' in its advertisement previously published while the UBP had peddled "misinformation''.

But Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt said the UBP wanted Bermudians to know that the Opposition had not given up the fight for a constitutional conference and referendum just because Government had voted down the idea in a marathon 24 hour House of Assembly session.

Government wants to set up a Boundaries Commission to introduce single seat constituencies and slash the number of MPs from 40 to an unspecified number.

The Commission will be set up to look at the changes if the Privy Council in London is satisfied there has been adequate consultation in Bermuda.

Mr. Barritt said yesterday: "We dont want people to think that because the motion has been passed in the House of Assembly and gone to the UK that that is the end of the matter.

"The UBP believes it is not the end of the matter because the UK still has to decide whether there has been substantial consultation and discussion throughout Bermuda.

"We believe there's been a start but that by no means constitutes demonstrable public discussion.''