The Premier denied his party was divided, he had done anything unethical in connection with the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal or that Bermuda had a housing crisis last night.

In a wide-ranging interview with ZBM journalist Gary Moreno Dr. Ewart Brown discussed the issues he and his party faced in the upcoming election — now only seven days away — as well as their successes.

Though he sent an e-mail calling for unity earlier in the campaign and asked for any leadership challenges to wait until after December 18 he said his party was not divided: "I would say we are more united across the board than we have been at any time, at least since 1999."

And he added that his statement "we had to mislead you" after the 2003 election when then Premier Jennifer Smith was overthrown was "unfortunate".

"I was speaking to the delegates not the country," he said. "It is not one of the proudest moments in politics but politics, as Dame Lois used to say, is not kindergarten or Sunday school.

"There are times in politics where things happen that are not pleasant and that was one of them."

Dr. Brown was also asked about the BHC scandal and the statement by Kulandra Ratneser, the island's top prosecutor at the time, that unethical behaviour involving elected officials had been unearthed.

"Absolutely not correct, he may have made the statement of unethical behaviour but he never attached it to me," Dr. Brown said. "He never referred to my behaviour as unethical.

"Over time it will be revealed that this was a massive collaboration on the part of individuals to plan my downfall."

Dr. Brown would not name the individuals he believed were being the alleged campaign.

On housing Dr. Brown spoke of the geared to income housing scheme set up by Housing Minister David Burch

"We have gone from crisis to serious," he said. "It is not fixed yet, but I am impressed in the interest in geared to income housing, that is to provide housing at a more comfortable rate."

He also spoke of the importance of giving young black males the tools for personal transformations such as in the Mirrors Programme.

Dr. Brown said that while policies were put in place to help them succeed it was also important to realise that it was up to the individual to take part in those policies. Programmes like Mirrors brought about change in many individuals and gave them self worth and confidence.

Dr. Brown also spoke of his success in tourism and added that top hotels were coming to Bermuda. He reiterated a call he has made many times as Minister of Tourism, that young Bermudians should get involved in the hospitality sector, and added that it would provide jobs at all levels as well as housing opportunities.