complaints in confidence.

The Progressive Labour Party said the public had to have total confidence in the Commission.

"The Commission and the Commissioner must be seen to be above reproach in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Commission,'' said Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ms Renee Webb.

She spoke out following Tuesday's Royal Gazette article on a complaint by a pregnant woman against Opposition MP Dr. Ewart Brown.

The Commission ruled the Warwick West MP discriminated against Mrs. Susan Pearman when he fired her from his clinic, Bermuda Healthcare Services.

In a secret settlement, Dr. Brown paid his ex-employee $6,800.

Ms Webb said the PLP wanted to express "grave concern'' about the leak of the story to The Royal Gazette .

"In light of the sensitive nature of alleged discrimination, the public must be assured that the utmost confidence is adhered to by the Commission and its staff when handling such cases.'' She added: "In light of the recent case of Dr. Ewart Brown and Mrs. Susan Pearman, which was leaked to the Press, we in the Progressive Labour Party have some apprehensions about the role of the Human Rights Commission in safeguarding public confidence.''