A REPORT outlining possible election reforms has been handed over to the Opposition United Bermuda Party after it raised concerns about the impartiality of the Parliamentary Registrar.

On Wednesday it was revealed that a review of General Election procedures, along with suggested amendments, had been compiled by Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott and forwarded to Cabinet last month.

Yesterday, the UBP questioned why it had not seen a copy of the proposals - and suggested that Parliamentary procedures were not being followed.

But party chairman Michael Fahy later confirmed that he had been given a copy of the report "clearly due to pressure brought to bear from the Press".

Mr. Fahy spoke out after Mr. Scott - whose office comes under the authority of the Governor - confirmed that his report had been sent to Cabinet - but he was still waiting for "the green light" before giving it to the Opposition.

Mr. Fahy said: "The United Bermuda Party is most disappointed at the route chosen by the Parliamentary Registrar in the review of the Parliamentary Election Act.

"Pursuant to the Act the Parliamentary Registrar is appointed by the Governor and is therefore supposed to be non-partisan in his approach. The spirit of the Act therefore means that the Parliamentary Registrar should consult with both the Government and the Opposition in respect of any report being produced to amend the Act.

"It is bizarre to say the least that an independent office has simply produced a report and submitted the same to Cabinet without properly consulting with representatives of the Opposition and calls into question the impartiality of the process.

"The Parliamentary Registrar is quoted as saying that he has not had the 'green light' yet to present his report to the United Bermuda Party. Is this the green light from the Governor, who is responsible for the Parliamentary Registrar's office or from Cabinet? If from the Governor why has it not been granted and if from Cabinet how do they even have a right to give a 'green light' to a non-partisan office?

"It is well recognised in democracies around the world that to ensure a fair and transparent electoral system is in place that all interested parties are properly consulted so as to avoid allegations of such an act being amended to suit one party or the other ¿ simply presenting a report to Cabinet and presumably awaiting a green light to 'present' the report to the Opposition flies in the face of such principles.

"In short, we respectfully request that the Parliamentary Registrar make his report available as a matter of urgency to the United Bermuda Party for review and comment."

The Mid-Ocean News yesterday contacted Deputy Governor Mark Capes to ask if he knew why the Opposition had not seen the review.

After speaking to Mr. Scott, Mr. Capes replied: " I understand from Randy Scott, the Parliamentary Registrar, that he has now sent his report to the United Bermuda Party. The report was prepared by Mr. Scott on his initiative and in keeping with good practice.

"It is of course sensible that following a general election there should be such an impartial and objective review of the electoral process to consider how it might be improved and to address any specific concerns raised by the political parties or by the general public."

Mr. Fahy later told this newspaper: "Finally a report ¿ not necessarily the exact report released to Cabinet ¿ was passed to me as chairman late this morning ¿ clearly due to pressure brought to bear from the Press.

"The main point still stands that we should be privy to such reports at the same time as the Government. The process must be examined closely in future."