the media except through written statements.

The extraordinary move five days into the election campaign was taken because "our life has been made miserable'' by Press coverage, Mr. Wade told The Royal Gazette last night.

Control of candidate communications would be achieved through prepared, written statements issued by Party headquarters.

Mr. Wade said he realised his party was running the risk of the statements not being ready by media deadlines.

"But we'd rather not get anything in at all than it being mishandled or misquoted,'' he said.

"We can't afford to make any glitches. We've made enough in this campaign so far.'' Mr. Wade said the party order was extended to all broadcasting and newspaper organisations.

He said the party would get around any information impediments through daily press conferences.

But a question to a PLP candidate yesterday highlighted the problems of getting information for news stories.

Mr. Stanley Morton, who is running for re-election in Pembroke East Central, was asked to contribute to an Election Notebook story about running against his cousin, United Bermuda Party candidate Mr. Lawson Mapp.

"No hard feelings,'' he answered, "but when it comes to the election we can't really come out with anything on our own.

"We have to go through the party system. We must be very cautious in terms of our utterances.

"Anything at this time that is relevant to the election we have to go through the public relations people. It's very ticklish.'' Mr. Wade said the gag rule did not have anything to do with the fact that the party had yet to release its party platform.

He said his party's candidates were aware of the PLP's platform and policies.

"They're equipped to deal with it on the doorsteps,'' he said. "Our candidates are speaking on the doorsteps.'' Mr. Wade said his party would release its platform soon.

"We haven't made a decision about what we'll do. You'll get it in good time,'' he said.

It is understood the party has been unhappy with recent Press reports on candidate statements.

In early September, The Royal Gazette reported comments by Mr. Phillip Perinchief, PLP candidate for Pembroke West Central, that the party was working on a new tax policy based on income.

Mr. Terry Lister, the campaign co-chairman and Southampton West candidate, later denied his party was proposing an income tax for Bermuda. He did not repudiate Mr. Perinchief's comments but said the party did not endorse them.

The UBP has also exhibited cold feet in allowing candidates to take on their PLP counterparts in public debate. The party last week threatened to boycott live television debates between candidates saying the election would be fought on people's doorsteps.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION