A road show to discuss the rewrite of relations between Britain and its colonies is set to get rolling, Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon said.

And she said: "There is a concern that Government has been so silent on this -- people don't know what the UK White Paper on the subject means.

"So we have committed to doing a road show to discuss what the White Paper means.

"What we want to do is disseminate information and educate people without the emotion which can be so debilitating -- that takes away from the topic.'' Ms Gordon was speaking after a recent meeting in the Warwick West constituency -- called to rally the United Bermuda Party troops and kick off discussion on the White Paper, which offers full rights to live and work in Britain, but which demands a commitment to Euro-style financial regulation, human rights and an end to capital punishment.

She said: "We talked about the White Paper and tried to get people to think about what it's about and how we're going to handle the challenges in the future.

"What we really want to do is get some answers from Government -- knowing we've already had a referendum on hanging, and knowing that's one of the issues in the White Paper, they have to decide whether they're comfortable about it, bearing in mind there have been no hangings since 1977.

"We're putting all the issues out there so people can ask the questions they want answered.'' Ms Gordon added that the Islandwide series of meetings was particularly important because the UK Government would be hosting a meeting on the White Paper next month.

She added that questions at the meeting, attended by around 40 people, centred on whether the Opposition was being kept informed of developments on the White Paper and its terms, taxation issues and its implications for Bermuda, and the mechanics of the full British citizenship offer.

Ms Gordon said: "Their major concern, because Government has been so silent, is if we are being kept fully informed -- and if not, why not? "A large number of the electorate voted for the UBP -- while Government will be the one to make decisions, information should be disseminated to the UBP.

"Unfortunately, as it stands right now, we're receiving no information from Government.'' Ms Gordon added that she was concerned at news that Bermuda -- currently under the microscope as various international bodies look at tax havens -- was already on a hitlist compiled by the European Union.

The Royal Gazette reported recently that the Opposition UK Conservative Party had warned that the EU was out to get offshore industries based in UK Overseas Territories.

The Tories were leaked documents showing a total of eight tax exemptions in Bermuda and some of the Caribbean colonies had been singled out.

Ms Gordon said: "This is cause for concern. It really concerns me when we have the Acting Premier making light of this.

"This is something which will not affect us in a small way. It has the potential to have a major impact on our economic well-being.

"This should be a top priority for the Premier, Minister of Finance and any other Minister with a role to play in this area.'' Ms Gordon added the Warwick meeting also focussed on the UBP's attempts to rebuild in Warwick West, where ex-Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness lost his seat in the November Progressive Labour Party landslide.