after a foreign businesswoman was banned from driving.

And he is calling for the sacking of Centre Re insurance vice president Christine Alaire after she pleaded guilty to obstructing Police, using offensive words, refusing to take a breath test and destroying a Police uniform.

On Thursday Magistrate Will Francis fined the Canadian $950 and banned her from driving for 12 months.

But Mr. Jeffers argued that the sentence should have been tougher.

He said: "How would a young Bermudian, without power and influence, have been treated under exactly the same circumstances?'' "Our view is that the results would have been quite different. "Are money and position determining factors on how justice is meted out in Bermuda? "Our view is that destroying the uniform of a Police officer is a serious offence that should not be tolerated. "We believe that there are number of options that may be exercised. The first option would be a resignation by the executive from her position and leaving the Island.

"The second would be the company's encouragement of a resignation. The third would be the company's decision not to seek a renewal of her work permit at the appropriate time if they planned to do so.

"Immigration has two options, either withdraw the executive's permission to work in Bermuda or refuse to renew the work permit.'' Last night Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness refused to comment on the particular case.

But he did accept that the criminal justice system did at times favour the wealthy.

"I was not in court so I can't comment on this particular case,'' he said.

"But it is a known fact that, throughout the world the legal system does favour the rich and powerful and Bermuda is no exception.

"If you are rich and powerful you can hire the very best attorney and you are in a position of influence.

"But in Bermuda the Government has worked to try and help people who are poor and in trouble to get legal representation.

"The legal aid programme has been criticised before but in a democratic society the poor should be treated the same as the rich.'' COURTS CTS