Curbing press freedom in Bermuda is not on Premier Alex Scott?s agenda.

But people who use ?divisive language? can expect to be in the sights of Mr. Scott when the Government?s Throne Speech is delivered on November 4.

In the continuing controversy surrounding a misdirected e-mail the Premier sent last week a shadow appeared to be cast on the future of the media in Bermuda.

Mr. Scott?s published response to criticism of his e-mail, which he refuted was racist in content, appeared to warn of measures being taken against the media in the upcoming Throne Speech.

Ambiguity about what was implied by the Premier led to questions from journalists assembled at the governing Progressive Labour Party?s headquarters in Hamilton yesterday afternoon.

Appearing at Alaska Hall, PLP press officer Scott Simmons and Senator Walter Roban publicly supported the Premier and his newspaper advertisement apology for the errant e-mail in which he said he was ?getting tired of listening to, and taking crap from people who look and sound like Brannon? in reference to an earlier e-mail from entertainer Tony Brannon. In his open reply in on Wednesday, Mr. Scott apologised for using the word ?crap? but denied there was any racist overtone in his e-mail, which he had written on his Blackberry device and meant to send to Director of Communication and Information Beverle Lottimore. It was sent back to Mr. Brannon instead.

Mr. Scott?s letter went on to give a number of examples of articles in the Press he felt were personal and vitriolic attacks upon himself and the Government, to which he said: ?This is not how we work together. This is not the way to unite us.?

He concluded by saying: ?To this end the Throne Speech will include a major initiative to address these elements that seek to divide us. ?Freedom of Speech? is not free; it comes with both responsibility and accountability.?

But a clampdown on the media is not his intention, according to Ms Lottimore.

She told : ?There is nothing about the media in the Throne Speech. The elements that seek to divide us are the language. He was talking about attitudes and behaviours.?

She said the initiatives hinted at by Mr. Scott would address these attitudes and behaviours which had been ?fostered? by the media.

Earlier in the day the PLP offered steadfast support for its leader.

Sen. Roban said: ?We repeat our party?s commitment to democracy and preserving all institutions that contribute to its growth and prosperity.

?We as a party are fully aware of the challenges that the Premier and his Ministers face daily in carrying out their duty as public servants. We have observed very often a hostile media, inflexible individuals, organisations and institutions that show an unwillingness to work with the Government, much less discuss issues of mutual concern.

?The issue that must be focused on we feel is no longer the words that made this issue a matter of public scrutiny, it is the environment that it is a product of and what is being created here in our community.

?We are observing a growing presence of, in some quarters of the media, even in Internet chat rooms, a growing attitude and behaviour which contributes venomous and contemptuous language directly to what the Premier referred to in his statement yesterday. This is what this country must be prepared to honestly address.?

Ordinary Bermudians can send e-mail messages to their leaders and often receive a direct response, said Sen. Roban, and often they could even speak directly to Government Ministers on the street.

?We all certainly agree that this quality should be preserved and not ruined by some persons and organisations that cultivate venomous and contemptuous language about those who have been given the responsibility to work in our interest,? he added.

Sen. Roban and Mr. Simmons said they were not in a position to speculate on the Throne Speech initiatives mentioned by the Premier.

Asked if it would have been better for the Premier to have held a Press call to make his apology, rather than take out a newspaper advert, Mr. Simmons said it was felt the message was so important it needed to be printed verbatim in its entirety for the population to read rather than risk the message being only partially reported in an open forum. He added: ?It was a wise and prudent way to do so and I think Mr. Scott did not go out of his way to separate himself from the media.?