Cabinet Minister Alex Scott yesterday defended his party's decision not to publicly release its submission to the Boundaries Commission, saying that he believed that the Commission itself had agreed that the parties would not do so while it was deliberating.

That, he said, was standard practice to avoid compromising the integrity of the Commission.

"Already now we've seen the United Bermuda Party's view circulated and we watch to see whether the Commission supports the UBP's view. And that's not healthy" Mr. Scott said.

"So the call for the submission to be made public is really a call for the process to be subverted, in my humble opinion."

He added : "My experience on the Pitt Commission and my experience in politics lead one to reason that they could have their integrity compromised if they (Commissioners) are seen to favour one view or the other."

Like the Boundaries Commission, the Pitt Commission (which dissected the workings of Bermuda society following the 1977 riots) held open, public hearings as well as in camera sessions, he said.

Mr. Scott said that if both parties released their submissions the Boundaries Commission would "no longer have the ability to bring their expertise to make a decision...The Boundaries Commission are the ones who have the expertise, the public don't. If the public comes to a premature conclusion based on submissions made public... then one could reason they have compromised the process."

The United Bermuda Party called a press conference this week to tell the public their recommendations for electoral reform.

Mr. Scott and the Progressive Labour Party hierarchy are not impressed.

"They (the Boundaries Commission) chose in their wisdom to take these submissions in camera. That's my understanding and we may even find there was agreement to that effect. And if so then the Opposition have done a tremendous disservice to both the Boundaries Commission and the public," Mr. Scott said.

"If the committee is seen to take the view of one submission they could be accused of taken sides with one party or the other."

But the UBP, and some PLP backbenchers and supporters, criticised the ruling party for not releasing its submission.

It is not clear whether the Commission did in fact agree that the parties' submissions should not be made public. Chairman Sir Frank Blackman could not be contacted for comment yesterday.