Premier Jennifer Smith yesterday received a roasting after she dodged mention of an international row over her attempts to block lawyer Saul Froomkin from the job of Honorary Canadian Consul.

And Opposition leader Pamela Gordon branded the Premier's statement to the House of Assembly on recent trips abroad as "a social calendar''.

Ms Gordon said: "I think it's a personal vendetta going on and I'm disappointed that she did not feel she owed the people of this country a personal explanation on the Saul Froomkin affair.

"We know there is this issue about Saul Froomkin and all we're getting is platitudes.

"And we have nothing on why the Bermuda Government has chosen to make this unprecedented move on the appointment of the Canadian Consul.'' Ms Smith visited Canada, Switzerland and the UK Foreign Office in recent weeks.

The Royal Gazette revealed exclusively nearly three weeks ago that moves had been made to block Mr. Froomkin's appointment -- a matter for Canada and the UK which still controls Bermuda's foreign policy.

And the subject of the Canadian Consul's job was set to be on the agenda in both Toronto and London.

Ms Smith's statement told MPs that diplomatic talks are not the subject of public discussion.

But she added: "I can say that the long-standing good relationship between our two countries continues and will be further enhanced by the Canadian Government's stated intention to appoint an honourary (sic) Canadian Consul here in Bermuda.'' And when asked for further comment after the House rose for lunch, Ms Smith snapped: "All my comments are in the statement.'' Mr. Froomkin earlier this year represented the United Bermuda Party in a court action to bar political Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans from the job on age grounds.

He also forced an apology from Ms Smith in 1997 after threatening to sue her for comments made during a Press conference.

Ms Gordon added that Mr. Froomkin had been hired to represent her in a row over payment for alterations to a house rented by her in Warwick while she was Premier.

The house -- which was paid for by Government until the UBP lost power -- had to be modified after Police experts insisted on security changes. And the new Government have demanded around $140,000.

Ms. Gordon said: "He was hired by the UBP and me because he is a very good lawyer -- not for any political reasons.

"He was the Attorney General and he knows what is and is not correct and proper.'' Ms Gordon also went on the offensive over remarks made by Ms Smith during a speech to the Canadian Club in Toronto.

Ms Smith told guests that the Progressive Labour Party victory last November "effectively ended minority white political domination in a predominantly black Island''.

Consul flap heats up But Ms Gordon said: "I find some of the comments in her speech were completely offensive to the people of this country -- especially those of us who are black members of the United Bermuda Party.

"I take great offence to that. It's just a pity the Premier is about form and no substance.'' The Premier's statement to the House was largely a list of people who accompanied her on the visits and dignitaries met.

But Ms Smith did say that Government would attend a series of conferences for the Overseas Territories to deal with "different aspects'' of the UK White Paper which rewrote relations between Britain and its colonies.

And she added: "The debate in Parliament and dissemination of information to the Bermuda public will all precede the Government's response.'' But Ms Gordon said: "It was a great disappointment. There are very significant issues out there.

"We were looking for substance, we were looking for things which would help us to understand the White Paper and details of negotiations about it.'' Ms Gordon added that the PLP had pledged "Government in the sunshine of public scrutiny'' in its pre-election platform.

But she said: "We weren't told anything tangible about what the benefit of the Premier being abroad and what was the benefit to Bermuda.'' Premier Jennifer Smith: `All form, no substance'