Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade.

Recently, Mr. Wade stated that if the choice for the Government Senate appointment had been his he would have selected a white woman.

But in a press release Sir John said this puzzled him because "since, as Opposition Leader, he has had every opportunity to make Senate appointments, and yet he has not appointed a white woman to the Senate.'' And, in reference to the recent choice of a Barbadian as the new Attorney General, Sir John said he did not agree that hiring a Bermudian was always preferable. "Mr. Wade's comments infer that he would support a Bermudian for this key post regardless of qualifications or suitability,'' he stated.

Sir John added: "The Committee conducting the search for the new AG had a mandate, and that was to find the best qualified person whose experience was appropriate to the varied and demanding aspects of that important office. By consensus, the Committee settled on the candidate it felt best met the requirements of the position of AG.'' Sir John also described as untrue, comments made by Mr. Wade during a recent appearance on the Shirley Dill Show. Mr Wade had suggested that the 30th anniversary celebrations of the UBP had not been successful and had lost money.

Sir John said that, on the contrary, the event had been overwhelmingly successful, with over 700 dinner tickets sold, and the 30th anniversary raffle had been a profitable fund-raiser.

In response to Mr. Wade's statement yesterday that the Progressive Labour Party was working hard to prepare for the new Parliamentary session, Sir John said he was sceptical.

"We have heard that before. It sounds like the PLP commitment to develop a national drug strategy -- we are still waiting,'' Sir John said.

He added: "I have heard there is a move afoot to replace Mr. Wade at the upcoming PLP conference.

"It has even been mooted that the next PLP leader will be from the Senate and not the House. That is how confused things seem to be in the PLP.

"My advice to Mr. Wade is to get his facts straight, stay out of our Party affairs and get his own political house in order. I wish him luck at the PLP conference.''