Progressive Labour Party (PLP) members were reminded of the party's roots yesterday as its annual symposium got underway at the Grotto Bay Hotel.

Keynote speaker historian Ira Phillip told his audience not to forget the party's history.

Last night Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown told The Royal Gazette that Mr. Phillip's presentation got the weekend retreat off to an excellent start.

"It got kicked off to a wonderful start and Ira Phillip, who was described as a living historian by Wayne Perinchief, gave an excellent presentation on the history of the party and said he hoped it would help us remember that the PLP is a strong party. He received a deafening ovation."

Mr. Phillip urged his audience "to look back at its roots and remember what its original objective was - to right the wrongs and improve life for ordinary Bermudians", Dr. Brown added.

The PLP holds its annual symposium to prepare for the next parliamentary session and parliamentarians, members of the executive and ordinary members are set to discuss a range of issues including the 2002 Throne Speech, next year's Budget and the Boundaries Commission Report on electoral reform.

The session was "well attended", by the majority of Cabinet and dozens of other members, said the party's acting public relations officer Walter Roban.

"We expect more people to come as the weekend goes on. Mr. Phillips gave people some perspective on where we are and where we've come from and he was warmly and enthusiastically received by all."

Backbencher Delaey Robinson also raved about Mr. Phillip's presentation and said : "We should have more of these things because it gives you a chance to look at the long term and assess yourself - the sorts of things you can't do on a day to day basis. It's really therapeutic. Tables were full and there were no empty chairs."

A second session on participation and involvement in party affairs was held immediately after Mr. Phillip's presentation.

The morale booster could not have come at a better time for the Island's first political party which has been going through some troubled times recently.

But talk of challenging Premier Jennifer Smith for the leadership of the party had already waned considerably in the weeks leading up to the symposium.

Possible contenders have yet to speak up and as far as some branch leaders are concerned other issues, like the Boundaries Commission electoral reform report, are now on the front burner.

Even ruling party backbencher Wayne Perinchief, who has been Ms Smith's most vocal opponent, had little to say when contacted earlier this week.

"I don't know if there's any contender they'd better come out and say so. I guess people are playing their cards close to their chest," he said.

Asked who he preferred to replace Ms Smith, he said : "I haven't made a choice. I'm just one of a group and I can't make those decisions."

Pembroke branch chairman Scott Pearman said that most branches were engaged in an "educational process" on the Boundaries Commission Report.

"That's the key thing. A number of branches are meeting to discuss and share information on the report." he said.

Backbencher Arthur Hodgson, who lost his cabinet post after an unsuccessful challenge in 2000 and is widely expected to try again at the party's conference in November, was unprepared to comment. But he did participate in yesterday's proceedings.

And his branch chairman Charles Daniels is not as anxious as he was when last May when a group of backbenchers demanded that the Premier resign. At the time Mr. Daniels said that he was concerned about a damaging split in the ruling party and would do all he could to prevent that.

In an interview this week he told The Royal Gazette that selection of delegates for the conference, the Boundaries Commission report and the upcoming Keep Bermuda Beautiful Clean Up were the immediate concerns of Hamilton Parish branch.

The deadline for delegate selection passed on September 16, but party chairman Neville Tyrell said that the organisation is being flexible.

"The leadership issue, I would say, has taken a back seat," Mr. Daniels said. But he added : "There are some genuine concerns and there are those who really would like to see them worked out."