As part of a continuing series on the new Cabinet members and their Opposition counterparts, reporter John Burchall talks to shadow minister for legislative affairs and women's issues, Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans MP.

If Bermudian women are serious about eradicating years of discrimination based on sex, they need to become Members of Parliament because that is the only place they can have any real influence.

While petitions, marches and letters to the Editor may make it appear there is a battle being waged against discrimination, such activities rarely produce results in the 1990s.

Times have changed and women must change with them or risk being left further behind.

These are some of the thoughts that veteran politician, former Opposition leader and new shadow minister for legislative affairs and women's issues Mrs.

Lois Browne-Evans shared with The Royal Gazette 12 days after PLP leader Mr.

Frederick Wade announced her appointment.

Speaking from her Court Street office in a back room surrounded by law books and pictures of children and grandchildren, Mrs. Browne-Evans paused to take a call from her daughter before she settled into the interview.

"I hope my leader chose me because he realised I will be sympathetic to issues pertaining to women added to my experience in Parliament over these many years,'' she said.

"The public can rest assured that I am not a bra-burning feminist type. I do not see the struggle for women's equality as one that excludes or is in opposition to men.

"Rather I am one who will seek moderation.'' Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans' own resume is replete with firsts -- she is the first woman to be called to the bar in Bermuda and the first woman Opposition leader.

She said that Bermudian women have never had to picket for their rights because they have lived in the West and are the beneficiaries of struggles in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Although there is still much to be done to improve Bermudian women's status, she said the struggle for the rest of this century will be remarkably different from those waged in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1960s.

"Women today are in the boardrooms and the civil service,'' she explained.

"But they still as a group have less economic equality. For some reason there are many women who accept less pay than a man even though they do the same work because they believe a man has to support the family.'' It is attitudes like this that Mrs. Browne-Evans intends to challenge at every opportunity.

"Women's issues are not going to be fought in the street like they were in the 1960s,'' she said. "They will be fought in Parliament, through networking, as well as economic alliances and conferences.

"I want Bermudian women to stand up a little more and get rid of the labels.

We now have women carpenters, funeral directors and masons.'' Mrs. Browne-Evans said it saddened her to see so few women in Parliament.

"The Women's Resource Centre do a great job. But they could achieve much more if they got someone into Parliament.

"Writing letters and petitioning are one thing but they need to be where the decisions are being made.

"Bermudian women have got realise that everything is political. From the price of eggs and butter to Pampers. They have got to start to see the connections between those in power and Parliament -- that's where the power really lies.'' Mrs. Browne-Evans said her first job as shadow minister was to form a team of advisers by the end of the summer.

Once in place the team will come up with a list of issues that need addressing, such as drug abuse, violence and crime.

It will brainstorm strategies so she will be in an informed position when the House of Assembly convenes in November.

Aside from her women's issues portfolio, Mrs. Browne-Evans' shadow ministry is also responsible for legislative affairs.

"I was at the Constitutional conference in 1966. I signed the minority report because the PLP knew then that the Constitution the British proposed for us was shot, soiled and worn out already. It did not work in the Bahamas but they still told us to try it.

"We want single seat constituencies and one person one vote, each vote of equal value.

"That's why the PLP took the position we did during the Independence referendum. The simple fact is that if we cannot convince the Government to change the status quo in Bermuda there is nothing to make us believe they will change it in England.

"We cannot go to Independence with the present bad framework.'' Meantime, Mrs. Browne-Evans said there was a lot that needed to be done to improve the efficiency of the House of Assembly.

For starters she said Government needed to improve its communications because her fellow members never knew which legislation was going to be discussed until they reached the House and looked on the order paper.

"The whips don't work together,'' she said. "There needs to be more planning so that we can know the upcoming legislation one month before it is going to be discussed.

"The new premier has promised change and it remains to be seen whether he follows through,'' she added. "But we in the PLP are here to govern. One day we shall.'' MRS. LOIS BROWNE-EVANS -- `I will seek moderation.'