Government Sen. Calvin Smith sprang to the defence of Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister yesterday, asking that "personal attacks'' on him be stopped.

But Opposition Sen. Maxwell Burgess responded by saying that Mr. Lister had not been attacked personally, but only that his comments were being called into question due to his "responsibility'' as a Minister.

Mr. Lister made what Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons called "inflammatory and extremely self-righteous'' comments in the House of Assembly last week while MPs were debating a controversial bill proposing the abolition of capital and corporal punishment.

Calling the death penalty in the US "nothing more than the legalised murder of black men'', Mr. Lister said: "There are no morals in the United States.

There is no moral leadership. If you want moral leadership, do not look there.'' Dr. Gibbons called on Mr. Lister to apologise for the remarks and resign, saying that they would serve to "seriously undermine'' any negotiations Bermuda was currently having with the US.

But during yesterday's motion to adjourn in the Senate, Sen. Smith said the Opposition were making "personal attacks'' on Mr. Lister.

He added: "These attacks do nothing to give a good self-image that our Government of black Bermudians needs.'' Sen. Smith said he felt MPs had a "great need to be seen as role-models'' and that it disturbed him to hear Mr. Lister being "denigrated''.

"He is a fine, intelligent young man,'' he said, "who has retired early to devote his life to his ministry.'' Saying that the "personal attacks'' were part of a "trend'' which the United Bermuda Party had begun during its election campaign last year, Sen. Smith added: "When you start accusing people of having terrible motives it becomes intolerable and I for one hope and trust that this type of thing will stop.'' In response, Sen. Burgess said: "I don't recall anyone calling into question the intelligence of Mr. Lister but, like it or not, he has an obligation to the political process.

"He also has an obligation to make sure that his comments can stand the test of scrutiny.

"Is Mr. Lister's view that of the entire Government? Because, if it is, then I suggest they come out and say it.'' "Ministers have a responsibility and they can't shirk that,'' Sen. Burgess said, adding that doing so would be a sign of the beginning of "substandard'' practices in Government.

"This is not a sinister attack on the Minister or on the PLP as a whole,'' he said.