Former Premier Sir John Swan?s scathing remarks to Rotarians this week that Bermuda was in danger of becoming a Third World country have been dismissed by critics as ?unhelpful? and ?alarmist?.

Progressive Labour Party spokesman Scott Simmons yesterday was quick to say that while the party respected the former Premier as a senior statesman, but said his leadership between 1982 and 1995 was ?imperfect? and said he should remember that he did not address the Island?s social disparities when Premier.

And long-time PLP parliamentarian and commentator Calvin Smith took off the gloves and deconstructed Sir John?s tenure ? the longest by any of the Island?s nine government leaders and Premiers ? as ?more to his ability to persuade people to do what he wants than his competence?.

Mr. Simmons said the PLP is ?again concerned? and ?sad? when where once Sir John had made positive comments about the party?s governing.

?While we recognise that as a senior politician in this country he may very well not necessarily be politically mainstream, meaning that he may not necessarily be aware of everything that goes on in the cut and thrust of politics in this country,? Mr. Simmons said.

?However, the country listens to him talk and when he speaks, the country will listen. What is unfortunate is that his comments are not helpful.?

Sir John was an imperfect leader during his administration with an imperfect Cabinet, he said, adding: ?He has looked towards the personal aspects. I believe he is disappointed for a number of reasons and as a result I do not think, in this case, it may not necessarily have anything to do with the average person, it may have to do with Sir John himself.

?So the party is saddened by that, but we are not interested in getting into the dynamic, we are prepared to preserve history the way that it was.?

Sir John contributed to Bermuda by his long leadership position as a statesman and steering it through a time of great change, he said.

Sir John should be given credit for that time, he said, but recognised there were problems during that time too, including ?a separate society, dysfunction in the workplace and an unkind management structure in this country at that time?.

?We would prefer if Sir John would abandon any personal dissatisfactions that he has with particular relationships with this Government and recognise we have a job to do, we are attempting to do it and we would solicit his help in ensuring our country moves forward,? he said.

Social scientist Walton Brown said Sir John?s opinion on the state of Bermuda was alarmist and that he used all the key words in order to get the most attention.

?I believe he was somewhat alarmist when he talked from an economic standpoint because Bermuda remains relatively robust,? Mr. Brown said.

He said confidence in the economy was reflected in reports by investors Moody?s and Standard and Poor?s, which effectively gave Government a thumbs-up for its economic and fiscal management.

On Sir John?s claims to there being a lack of a political framework which was embraced by the people of Bermuda, Mr. Brown said while people had become weary and frustrated by politics, the situation was nowhere near unstable.