A road show on the UK's rewrite of relations with its colonies is set to roll tonight.

And Opposition United Bermuda Party Leader Pamela Gordon said her party had taken a lead on the massive British White Paper because Government had failed to inform the people.

Ms Gordon said: "At this point we don't know what the Government is or isn't doing.

"We're being told they're doing a lot behind the scenes and it will all come to fruition when the Premier decides to talk about it.

"But what worries me is that when the Premier decides the time is right, the people of this country will not have been asked what their concerns are.

"What we're taking on is something which seems to be just a void right now.

"Even if the UK Government doesn't make final decisions until next year, it's not fair to the Bermudian people to ask them to wait that long to relieve their anxieties -- and they are very real anxieties.'' Ms Gordon said a dry run held recently threw up a host of concerns -- including what will happen to children if parents do not take up the offer of full citizenship, if passports would be retained if Bermuda goes Independent, and worries about the possibility of UK- or Euro-style taxation.

Ms Gordon added: "We believe we have a duty and a responsibility which Government should be taking on -- but isn't.

"If you go back to their pre-election manifesto, they talked about open Government and accountability.

"That certainly hasn't come out in the last seven months -- if anything, this Government is far more closed than the previous one was.'' Ms Gordon hit out as she announced that the first of three White Paper road shows will be held tonight at the Towne Hall in St. George's.

She said the aim of the presentations was to present the wide-ranging UK White Paper's conclusions -- which include an offer of full UK citizenship, but asks for tough financial regulation and more human rights -- chapter by chapter.

Ms Gordon added: "What we want to do is educate people so they can be brought to an understanding of what the White Paper actually means and what it will mean for them.'' Ms Gordon admitted the Opposition would not have all the answers to people's questions.

She said: "We want these meetings to be based on fact, not speculation -- certain aspects are not clear yet and we can't give definitive answers.

"If and when Government decides to let us have some information, we'll have broader knowledge and we can get answers to specific questions. Then we can hold further meetings.'' The St. George's road show will be handled by UBP Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt and Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons.

The White Paper discussion will be held at the King's Square home of the Corporation of St. George. The forum is scheduled to start at 7.30 p.m. and finish at 9.30 p.m.

The other two events are scheduled for next Tuesday in Somerset and next Thursday in Hamilton, although venues have yet to be finalised.