United Bermuda Party leader Pamela Gordon this week stressed that recent comments made by party member Wayne Furbert were not from the party.

Saying she would be "remiss'' not to point out the party has a Shadow Transport Minister, Ms Gordon added Mr. Furbert's comments were "not that of the Opposition''.

Mr. Furbert called for transportation congestion to be addressed and suggested Government may have to consider banning people here on short contracts from driving cars.

"Yes, we agree some tough decisions would have to be made,'' Ms Gordon said.

"We're encouraging Government to make this a priority and come up with a transportation plan so that we can have a fully integrated system.

"We do not put forth any discriminatory plans against guest workers or anything like that,'' she added. "We need an integrated plan, not something piecemeal and discriminatory.'' Ms Gordon said the plan could be the UBP's Transportation 2000 plan or the Progressive Labour Party's own system, but it must be implemented soon.

An integrated system would allow for an evaluation of further traffic tinkering -- but not a ban on expat drivers.

She added. "Mr. Furbert's comments were his own opinion, not that of the Opposition.

"Nowhere in that article did it indicate that he was not speaking for the UBP. I've had many calls on this issue today. While he's still a member and aspires to return to Parliament, presently he does not speak for the party.'' Ms Gordon added: "Clearly with Transportation 2000 the UBP did recognise we had a problem with traffic and we put together a plan. But it can only come out of an integrated system.'' When contacted yesterday, Mr. Furbert confirmed that he was speaking as an individual and not for the UBP.

When asked about reaction to his comments, he said: "I've heard from some of my non-Bermudian friends who were concerned about some of my comments.

Firstly, I was talking about people who are single and, secondly, it was to promote discussion,'' he added. "I was floating an idea because we have to do something and soon.

"At the end of the day, the Transportation 2000 doesn't resolve the car issue. We simply can't look at limiting the amount of cars until the transportation system is made affordable and convenient.'' Mr. Furbert said expat workers were concerned that Government was "coming at'' them with immigration time limits and that his comments had made them more "uncomfortable''.

"I'm a great supporter of my non-Bermudians friends and their rights and I was just bringing out an idea,'' he added. "I just want people to get thinking. If not we'll be here another five to ten years still with the problem.''