Smith has again denied Constitutional change is in the works.

But Premier Smith, responding to questions from Legislative Affairs Shadow Minister John Barritt on Friday, has reiterated her party's stance that there are "anomalies and glaring disparities'' in the constituency boundaries across the Island.

Speaking during the questions period in the House of Assembly, Ms Smith said there were no constitutional changes planned during the next 12 months and Government and the UK were not taking any steps to effect constitutional change for Bermuda.

The disparity in size of parish based constituency boundaries -- with some barely having 1,000 voters and other more densely populated parishes having over 2,500 -- still rankles the Progressive Labour Party government.

And she called for the removal of the apparent constitutional ban on Members of Parliament being citizens of other countries "forthwith''.

The Government House appointed Boundaries Commission believes the effect of section 54 (2) of the Constitution makes it mandatory for them to draw lines inside parishes rather than on the number of voters qualified to be registered.

"The PLP Government believes that democracy in Bermuda can only be advanced with the institution of one person/one vote of equal value (i.e. equal seat constituencies),'' Ms Smith said.

She added: "We recommend that parish boundaries be removed from consideration in the drawing up of electoral constituencies and that such constituencies be composed of an equal number (as near as can be) of registered voters.'' Ms Smith said her party had "grave concerns'' about Section 30 of the Constitution which she said "must not have been designed to deprive a born Bermudian of the right to serve his country''.

Ms Smith added: "We believe that any ambiguity in the wording of clause 30 (1)(a) that give license to such an interpretation must be removed forthwith.'' On the question of discussions between Bermuda and the UK about constitutional change, Ms Smith said no steps had been proposed other than what is in the UK White Paper of 1999 and Government's response.

She said the subject of meetings between Bermuda and the UK Government directly or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are "not generally released''.

But when she has met with the British, Ms Smith said she has made general statements in the House.

Premier Jennifer Smith: "Government believes that democracy in Bermuda can only be advanced with the institution of one person ne vote of equal value . .

.''