that fellow constituency MP Ewart Brown apologise to the people of Bermuda over a long-running controversy over his joint US/Bermuda nationality.

Mr. Edness weighed into the argument only days after the Progressive Labour Party's Dr. Brown dumped his US passport amid a row over whether he was eligible to be an MP in Bermuda.

He said: "I'm very pleased that he has done the right thing in giving up his US citizenship to become eligible to run for Parliament in Bermuda.

"I would have hoped that he and the PLP would have apologised to the people of Bermuda because they have misled them for several years.'' Dr. Brown announced he had renounced his US rights earlier this week.

But he insisted he had been legally in the right in holding a seat in the House and a US passport.

And he said he had acted to end confusion and to deprive the United Bermuda Party of ammunition for the upcoming General Election battle.

But he slammed a Constitution which allowed those born in Australia, Canada and Jamaica to sit in the Legislature without problems, but appeared to discriminate against born Bermudians who held another passport as well.

And he and party leader Jennifer Smith called for a Consitutional Conference to remove problems for dual citizenship Bermudians in the future.

But Mr. Edness -- currently in the US on Government business -- said: "To try and hide it by saying it's legal when it's not and saying the Constitution needs changing when it doesn't is wrong.'' Mr. Edness added: "That sort of talk is simply designed to continue to confuse the public. The point is when you swear allegiance to a foreign flag by your own act, you are not eligible to sit in Parliament.

"People who were born in a different place and have Bermuda status are eligible.

"Any talk around that is simply designed to mislead the public -- the Consititution is fine. It's there to protect the people of Bermuda.

"To change it would mean strangers could sit in our House without the responsibility those who have committed themselves to Bermuda have shown.'' Dr. Brown added that the US "was in no way a foreign power as far as Bermuda and Bermudians were concerned.'' Edness seeks apology That view was disputed by UK experts who pointed out that the US requires visas and immigration clearance for Bermudians entering the US -- the same as any other foreign country -- and the close friendship between the two countries was legally irrelevant.

And they pointed out that Australia, Canada and Jamaica are all Commonwealth countries -- which, unlike the US, acknowledge the Queen as Head of State.

Mr. Edness added: "America is a friendly nation as far as Bermuda is concerned -- but constitutionally it's not the same as a Commonwealth country.

"France is a friendly power -- but as far as Bermuda's concerned, it's still a foreign power.'' IMMIGRATION IMM