Opposition Sen. Kim Swan sparked off a storm of controversy after accusing Government of committing "seven sinister sanctions'' since it came to office.

Speaking during the motion to adjourn session of yesterday's Senate meeting, Sen. Swan blasted Government for bullying, arrogance, intimidation tactics and attempted political suicide.

But one of the charges on his list of indictments -- treason -- caused such uproar in the Government ranks he was forced to withdraw it without further explanation.

"We are seven months into the new Government and I would like to stand today to speak to the Senate because I am concerned about what I consider to be an in your face style of the new administration,'' Sen. Swan said.

"I respect the Government of the day and my job here is to be the best opposition for the people of Bermuda. I know who's in charge and I feel the Bermudian people know who's in charge.

"But I view the style of the new Government as being one of bullying and I would like to highlight seven sinister sanctions we have seen in the last seven months.'' Illustrating his list with examples, the Senator said Premier Jennifer Smith used threatening tactics when she declared that anyone unwilling to celebrate the January 4 public holiday would do so "at their own peril''.

He said the Public Service Commission was under siege -- an indication, he claimed of Government intimidation, while the sacking of the long standing Government chauffeur was "political suicide''.

Sen. Swan also expressed his dismay at alleged remarks made by Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson that it was a good thing for hotels to shut down. He went on to accuse the Government of political posturing after it blocked the appointment of Saul Froomkin as Canada's Honorary Consul, and also slammed recent controversial tourism advertisements as a sign of arrogance.

"I raise these points because they have happened over the past seven months and I feel it might be time to bring them to the fore,'' Sen. Swan said.

"I hope that the spirit of Government might change somewhat from the beating your chest, in your face way. We don't need that. That's not the way to do business.'' The speech prompted an outburst from Government Senator and Chief of Staff David Burch , who accused the Opposition of being "petty''.

And Sen. Burch also took the opportunity to attack The Royal Gazette , describing it as a propaganda machine for the United Bermuda Party which nobody believed.

Referring to the Saul Froomkin incident, which the newspaper revealed earlier this month without naming sources, he said: "You have nobody from the Governments of Canada or the UK or Bermuda who you can name. How can you come up with a host of allegations that you can't prove? "Nobody buys The Royal Gazette -- it's propaganda. They phone you up at two minutes past five and then say you were unavailable for comment. We know all their tricks.

"The issues that the Senator raises are all petty, orchestrated by them and perpetuated by The Royal Gazette .'' Pointing to the Opposition side he said: "I used to reckon they were living on the lunatic fringe -- now I reckon they have fallen over the edge and are living in la-la land.'' Sen. Burch reminded the Opposition that, in a recent public opinion poll, 77 percent of those questioned believed Government was doing a good job.

And he said anti-Government letters printed in The Royal Gazette were the work of just a handful of UBP supporters.

"There are three or four people churning out this propaganda. They don't provide their names and the writing is all the same,'' he said.

"You can tell those people that in the new Bermuda you can sign your name and there's no recourse. Sign your name if you are going to accuse Government of something.

"We are working harder, longer and more aggressively than the other Government because we have no desire to be a one-term Government. But if you want to know the promises of this Government, don't ask the local media, call party headquarters and get a copy of the platform.'' Royal Gazette Editor Bill Zuill said the newspaper had gone to great lengths to get information and reaction to stories from the Cabinet Office, usually to no avail.

"We have held stories for days while we await a response from the Cabinet Office,'' he said. "We have put questions to the Premier via Government Information Services -- at the request of the Premier -- and have held the stories until we get a response or until it is clear that no response will be forthcoming.

"The public has a right to know what is going on in the Government and should not be denied that right because the media is being stonewalled.'' Mr. Zuill said some Cabinet Ministers have been very accessible and quick and open to reply.

"It is totally unfair to accuse this newspaper of conspiring with the Opposition or of `ambushing' people by leaving messages after 5 p.m.,'' he added. "When the Cabinet Office refuses to respond to stories, there are times when you are forced to rely on anonymous sources, often against our wishes. But I note that Sen. Burch did not deny the story about Mr. Froomkin when he had the opportunity to do so.''