The following letter was sent to the Premier and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Madam Premier, On the evening of November 9, 2000, you provided Bermuda with the opportunity to hear a panel discussion regarding Government's proposed amendments to the Constitution, followed by a meeting with the Public.

I asked the following questions: Madam Premier, if Constitutional Reform is ideally viewed as an opportunity to get things right, for enhancing democracy, might we cast our net wider and consider issues such as a Freedom of Information Act, equal rights for those currently discriminated against due to sexual orientation, age concerns and so on.

Madam Premier, would you consider holding further public meetings to allow for a more comprehensive dialogue with the People? Madam Premier, regarding Constitutional Reform, you have complained about a spread of misinformation and distortions by the UBP Opposition and so-called UBP supporters; the UBP Opposition and others have complained about the process surrounding the proposed amendments. With all due respect Madam Premier, the good people of Bermuda might justifiably complain about the poisoning atmosphere and culture created by some Ministers and back-benchers in Government, who perversely make enemies of allies, with every trip to the House.

What can you do as Leader, to tone down what many perceive as offensive rhetoric and encourage a more considered debate on issues vital to Bermuda's well-being? And you responded: "I feel like I would like to ask you a lot of questions, but I will restrain myself. I am not going to ask what district you live in. I am not going to ask who your representative is. I am not going to ask if you asked your representatives to bring up those matters you suggested or whether or not they support you.

What I will ask you to do however, is to supply the names of those Ministers and back-benchers who you have said are doing these things. I really don't like people who deal in anonymous accusations, but if there is something that's happened, I will look into it, but you must first make the complaint to me with the names.'' Your reply confuses me. I cannot decipher if you were unresponsive with your answer or whether I was meant to read between the lines. However in my response, I will attempt to address what you have said at face value, along with those questions you chose to leave unasked.

I live in Devonshire South. In the lead-up to the General Election of '98, the Critchley household received several visits from UBP candidates. I believe my views, or at the very least my right to my views were, and continue to be, well supported. Unfortunately, no PLP candidates ever came acalling.

Additionally, I have made known my thoughts in the form of opinion pieces in The Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun. As you famously eschew the local press, I have enclosed two of my articles, published before (December 1997) and after (September 1999) the last election, proposing the necessity for a Freedom of Information Act as well as outlining problems inherent in General Orders.

Regarding your request that I name names, I respectfully draw attention to your communication with the Bermudian Public, "What can a humble paint brush teach us about good government'' ( Royal Gazette , November 16th, 1998.) You wrote, "There is a time for discipline. I have been firm with colleagues whose extreme views threatened to rip us apart.'' By your definition, was this not an anonymous accusation? Would Bermuda have been better served and protected by the naming of names, or was your public recognition of an extreme element within the PLP, assurance enough? In the PLP General Election Platform, "A New Bermuda'', page 48, we learn that the Party "will continue to recognise and accentuate the things that unite us, and we will continue to encourage tolerance and constructive engagement on things with the potential to divide us.'' On the last page of "A New Bermuda'', you communicated the following: "I give you my word that every undertaking in this Platform is a pledge to the Bermudian people. We commend it to your judgment.'' I have interpreted "We commend it to your judgment'' as a welcoming invitation for public feedback. I will respectfully decline your request to name names, as I did not expect my question to suggest we require a Bermudian Inquisition.

I will however share a few of my views that I perceive are at odds with actual comments and inferences made by some PLP Members of Parliament, that have, at least publicly, gone unchallenged by your Office: I believe that the PLP should not be sent back to the plantation.

I believe Canada is welcoming to people of colour.

I believe America is a moral country.

I believe UBP supporters are capable of independent thought.

I believe PLP supporters are capable of independent thought.

I believe that anyone, regardless of race, is capable of arrogance and racism.

I believe that not all black people think alike. I believe that not all white people think alike. I do give a damn what they (the Public) think(s.) In closing Madam Premier, the following is Working Note No. 5, from the Commission of Inquiry into Serious Crimes: "There is constant reference to things in the past and we think it is necessary for the (Police) Service here in Bermuda to move forward. These matters must be put behind them and there must be positive address of things that need to be done for the betterment of the people of Bermuda.'' I suspect that this finding could be applied to other areas in Bermuda.