Bermuda faces more conflict next time constitutional amendments are made after the parties failed to agree on a new formula.

Ructions caused during the last amendment bringing in single seats in February, 2003, prompted Britain to set up talks on new rules.

Submissions were sought last year but Britain has given up following widespread local disagreements.

A statement by Governor Sir John Vereker released yesterday said: ?The consultation showed there is a divergence of views in Bermuda between those who consider the elected Government of Bermuda has sufficient authority to seek an amendment, and those who consider such a step should be authorised by either a special majority of the House of Assembly, or a referendum, or a combination of the two.

?I have reported these views to Ministers in London, who have noted the issue is not a pressing one at the moment.

?They will take account of all these views in deciding how any future changes should be handled.?

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons said it was a missed opportunity.

Government?s move to 36 single seats from 20 twin-seat constituencies aroused anger from groups opposed to making such a major change by simply passing a law in Parliament.

People marched on Government House to press the case for more consultation and eventually public meetings were held before the voting system was changed last year, following work by the Boundaries Commission made up of equal numbers of Government and Opposition MPs with an independent chairman and secretary.

Dr. Gibbons said clarifying the process for future constitutional amendments would have gone a long way to relieving the anxiety, concern and suspicion expressed last time.

He said a lot of effort had gone into the submissions and he had urged the British Government to let the parties try and hammer out a Bermuda solution, which was in keeping with the Britain?s promise to let its territories to sort out their own affairs as much as possible.

He attacked the Progressive Labour Party for its winner-take-all stance on changing the constitution which the labelled short-sighted.

He said: ?Constitutional changes effect everybody.

?Our position has always been there should be the broadest possible consultation, there should be checks and balances, which is what we put forward.?

Major changes need not only the endorsement of Cabinet and the House but the broader community, said Dr. Gibbons who added that the PLP had taken a very selfish position by accepting a simple majority of MPs.

?We feel that is not an approach which is right and proper from a democratic point of view.?

The Opposition had suggested simple constitutional changes should be made by a 75 percent majority in the House of Assembly while major changes should be drawn up by a committee, passed by a two thirds majority in the House and then endorsed by the public via referendum.

The PLP did not make its suggestions public.

The Governor stressed the doomed consultation exercise was only about the best way to amend the existing constitution, not about whether or how to write a new one for an independent Bermuda.

He said: ?The debate on Independence, which was launched by the Government of Bermuda later, is entirely separate.?

However, Dr. Gibbons said the failure to agree a formula on constitutional change did not bode well for the Independence debate which Premier Alex Scott has started.

The Governor said the UK Government have concluded it would be appropriate for any future Constituency Boundaries Commission both to invite submissions during its deliberations, and to provide the opportunity for comments on its draft report in good time before finalising the report.

Dr. Gibbons said it had been hoped the Boundaries Commission would release a draft report during the last changes but nothing materialised.

?We are in the same position as before.?