Government was called upon to make its case clear over reports of objections to the appointment of a new Honorary Canadian Consul.

Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt asked why the PLP had not made any comments over the story which claimed they were against lawyer Saul Froomkin taking the post. He added that acting Premier Eugene Cox had appeared to distance himself from the controversy -- leaving the public to speculate about the whole affair.

The matter should have been dealt with straightaway and not doing so didn't bring any credibility on the Island from the outside world.

"There is some suggestion of political involvement here, I hope that is not the case, people want to choose their honorary consul and the people that represent them.'' The Devonshire South MP also called upon Attorney General Lois Browne Evans to withdraw remarks made about the current bench of magistrates earlier this week.

Mr. Barritt said her remarks were that she did not want magistrates to have the power to decide whether more serious cases should proceed to the Supreme Court, without giving defendants that choice. "I thought for the top law officer in these lands to besmirch these magistrates on the front line of justice, suggesting somehow they are non-Bermudians and not up to the job -- it undermines the administration of justice in this country,'' he said.

Of the four magistrates, he said, three held Bermudian status. "If those who have status are not recognised as Bermudian, then we are now going to view them differently, that has to be of great concern. It brings nothing but shame on the office of Attorney General to say those things in public.'' Mrs. Browne Evans was not in the House of Assembly.