The Progressive Labour Party Government has failed in its duty to communicate with the public, Acting Opposition leader Grant Gibbons charged yesterday.

And he challenged the ruling PLP to release details of attempted influence peddling by party members on the coat-tails of last November's victory at the polls.

Dr. Gibbons said Premier Jennifer Smith's admission that the new Government had not made the progress it had hoped in its first year was a confession that the PLP had not been ready.

Dr. Gibbons said: "In terms of the comments themselves, they are all things which are apparent.

"After a year in power, the PLP are beginning to recognise that governing is not as easy as it looks in Opposition.

"The Premier's comments show the PLP were not -- even after 36 years -- ready to take on the work and obligations of Government.'' He added: "There is an obligation to communicate with the public and, by and large, this Government has failed to meet that obligation.'' Dr. Gibbons hit out after the Premier's opening speech to the PLP annual conference on Monday.

Ms Smith -- in what could be seen as a warning to the party faithful that attempts at corruption were not on -- said some PLP members had petitioned Ministers for assistance with jobs, while business members had asked for favoured treatment over contracts.

And Ms Smith added: "There have been members who have used, abused or misrepresented their position within the party in an effort to trade on the party's success.'' Dr. Gibbons said: "It's no surprise that we've heard admissions of influence peddling and attempts to abuse power.

"Now that the Premier has raised these issues, the public has a right to know the specific circumstances and, probably most importantly, we need to know what was done to stop it and stop it happening again.'' Dr. Gibbons said the thin legislative session for the PLP's first year in power was indicative of problems.

He added: "They've spent a lot of their time this year trying to secure the potential perks and privileges which come with power, from jobs for their mates to the trips, which have been widely reported.'' And he said the decision to open Parliament in the grounds of Cabinet Office instead of the Senate Chamber -- to allow more public access -- was a sign of the triumph of style over substance.

Editorial, full text of Premier's speech: Page 4 Influence peddling Dr. Gibbons claimed: "It really speaks volumes -- it's a totally symbolic thing which allows the PLP to appear to meet its election promises to operate in the sunshine of public scrutiny -- but there is no substance at all.'' And he slammed Government for failing to inform the public on negotiations with the UK over the White Paper rewrite of relations, which includes an offer of full UK citizenship -- but with demands for tough financial standards and strong anti-money laundering legislation -- and the reasons for the massive hike in land tax.

Dr. Gibbons said: "The White Paper, land tax, Sen. Milton Scott's demands that Independent Senators should be removed -- we get a `no comment' answer or a frivolous answer.

"I think they have broken other obligations too -- like the one to spend the taxpayers' money wisely.'' And he pointed to a near $275,000 decision to buy space for an advertising feature on Bermuda in Time magazine as a waste of cash.

Dr. Gibbons said: "There was effectively no support in the broader business community to help with that.'' Neither party spokesman Corey Butterfield nor PLP chairman Victor Fishington could be contacted for comment on whether any party members had been disciplined or expelled for attempting to influence jobs or contracts.