It was standing room only as an overflow crowd of Bermudians crammed into a church hall last night to hear Premier Jennifer Smith explain her plans to change the Constitution.

Ms Smith told the only Government-organised public meeting on the reforms held at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Hamilton that the Progressive Labour Party had been advocating the reforms since the 1960s and there was nothing secretive about the process.

One of the most dramatic moments in the orderly meeting came when audience member Andrew Banks asked the mainly-white crowd if they would like a chance to vote on the changes.

At least seventy percent raised their hands for a referendum. A group of PLP supporters at the front, including many Government MPs, kept their hands down.

To those who said the reforms to introduce single-seat contituencies, equal-sized constituencies, and reduce the number of MPs were too quick, Ms Smith said the PLP had wanted the changes since its inception in 1963.

Ms Smith said she stood by her answer to UBP MP John Barritt in February this year when she said she had no plans for constitutional reform in the next 12 months.

She said in August she was informed that if she wanted to make the constitutional changes she would have to follow the Foreign Office guidelines -- which included consultation -- so she gave advanced notice to the House of Assembly and tabled a motion.

The Boundaries Commission -- which Ms Smith will task to draw up the changes -- had to meet before 2002 because it met five years ago and must meet within every seven years.

Census 2000 information will need to be analysed before determining how many constituencies there will be and the Constitution had to be changed to look at boundaries.

She said the appointment of an Ombudsman would be a democratic safeguard and regretted all the discussions had focused on numbers of MPs, and promised continuing discussions about the changes.

Fellow panelist, UBP Senator Maxwell Burgess said he hoped last night would be the first of many public meetings because a consensus was needed for constitutional reform.

He said that Bermudians should decide how many people would represent them, then an expert could be brought in to divide up the constituencies equally.

See also Editorial, Page 4 Premier argues PLP has pushed Constitutional reform since 1960s "I believe it would bode well for Bermuda if we just took the time, relaxed, and worked through this together. If the constitution belongs to you, you should say what goes in it,'' he said.

National Liberal Party stalwart and panelist Graeme Outerbridge said he supported the changes but they should go to a referendum.

Referring to the UBP, he said: "If they had 30 years to make it fair, the question is why didn't they do it?'' PLP Senator and panelist Patrice Parris said the Opposition's objections had nothing to do with democracy, but with insecurity about holding onto their seats.

Power in Bermuda had been transferred from the UBP but it was still trying to exercise control, she said.

Former Clerk to the Legislature John Gilbert said the changes had been properly tabled and there was no need for a constitutional conference.

He added: "The procedures are not cloaked in secrecy and there has been ample time for Members of Parliament and their constituents to air their views, therefore there is no need for a constitutional conference presided over by the UK government, which would be time-consuming and expensive.'' Panelist and Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans drew a standing ovation from PLP supporters when she said her party had supported reform since 1963 and she "detested that some people are trying to make out that we're doing something sinister.

"Throughout my life, the PLP has had more meetings, written more platforms, had more position papers, and we've tabled them all.

"We've come a long way and we've come too far to back down. I haven't given up 30-odd years of my life trying to bring democracy and have someone else label it dictatorship when for 30 years there was rule with an iron hand.'' Chamber of Commerce President Cris Valdes Dapena said she supported the changes but it was "dangerous'' that the legislature could pass them with a simple majority vote.

The Premier responded that only the British Government could change the constitution, but MPs in Bermuda acted the elected representatives of the people.

Audience member Keith Swan urged Government not to be "thrown off course'' and distracted by smears about dictatorships from people "whose intention is to undermine the confidence of people in the PLP''.

Robert Zuill asked the Premier why Bermuda could not have a referendum about the changes.

She replied that she believed the majority of people wanted the changes. "If it is merely, `we don't want the changes no matter what', I have to listen to the 56 percent who elected the PLP''.

Former UBP Senator Yvette Swan said it was normal to have a two third votes to change the constitution of clubs or societies, and asked: "Isn't Bermuda worth two thirds of a vote rather than a simple majority?'' Ms Smith replied that she "protesteth too much'' when she talked about women being second-class citizens in the constitution. The PLP was doing things the UBP should have done while in Government.