good leaders, Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward charged yesterday.

Launching his re-election campaign, Mr. Hayward stressed that independent Parliamentarians "can and must play a pivotal role'' for Bermuda's future.

While listing accomplishments and contributions he has made in and out of Parliament over the last four-and-a-half years, Mr. Hayward said: "I must confess that perhaps the most distressing aspect of this service is that the atmosphere of productive discussion I have found in the (Pembroke West Central) constituency is missing in Parliament''.

There is, he said, far too often, disrespect, bullying and deceit interfere with rational debate and short-circuit the finding of cooperative solutions.

"Our Parliament ought to be a place where children are brought to be inspired,'' he added, "instead it is a place where the accepted standard of behaviour, as has been heard on the radio, makes no one proud.'' But Mr. Hayward said this was not entirely the fault of MPs.

"The Westminster system forces MPs into habits that are more divisive than cohesive, more destructive than supportive,'' he said. "In order for our leaders to succeed in our system of Parliament, they are virtually condemned to fail as ideal role models for our youth.'' Independent Parliamentarians, however, are by their very nature averse to the notion of seizing power or control, he added.

"Independent Parliamentarians are therefore relieved of the need to turn every issue into a struggle for political supremacy.'' While admitting that there were no easy solutions to any of Bermuda's problems, Mr. Hayward said: "All the problems have one common denominator for the problems and solutions, our people.

"We, the people of Bermuda, must wean ourselves away from the seemingly endless sour relationships -- between parties, between races -- and begin to re-build a Bermudian society which matches the graceful and lovely charm of our ocean island home.'' He said the last election, in which he was the first Independent to win an MP seat, was the start of such re-building.

Mr. Hayward noted that, through public meetings, he forced Government to withdraw the "double standard'' 1989 Development & Planning Amendment, and raised the public's awareness of the Bermuda Electric Light Company's effects on the environment.

He also said his work in Pembroke West Central forced other candidates to step up visits to constituents.

But there was still much to be done, Mr. Hayward stressed.

And he said he planned to focus on Bermuda's physical, social and economical environment; human rights, particularly for the very young and elderly; and the reforming of Bermuda's system of Parliament.

In launching his re-election campaign Mr. Hayward also spent the day distributing "by hand'' copies of his campaign brochure to every household in the Pembroke West Central constituency.

He said he would also continue his door-to-door visits.

"When the day of election arrives, I hope that Bermudians will see the wisdom of giving their support to worthy independent candidates,'' he said, adding that he expected to see "more people who are independent thinkers and more people attempting to run as independents'' in future general elections.