election candidates, the Opposition Leader charged yesterday.

Mr. Frederick Wade said that when the Legislature was dissolved during an election campaign, the Premier and Cabinet were to act as "a caretaker,'' not initiate new policies or programmes.

"That is my understanding of the role of the Cabinet during this period when there is no Parliament,'' Mr. Wade said at a news conference.

The Progressive Labour Party objected to Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness' announcement on Tuesday of a review of the Island's health care system, he said.

"This kind of disregard and disrespect for the Constitution we find offensive,'' Mr. Wade said. "It is contrary to Parliamentary democracy as we know it in Western society.'' But Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leopold Mills said the Constitution did not restrict the roles of the Premier and Cabinet while the Legislature was dissolved.

"Ministers remain in being until such time as there is a change in Government,'' said Mr. Mills.

In the event of a defeat at the polls, it was a tradition that an outgoing Government would act only as a caretaker until the reins of power were handed over, he added.

Mr. Wade said he objected to the announcement by Mr. Edness because it was "done as the Minister of Health, as opposed to an election promise by a candidate for office.'' And while Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan's talks on the future of the US Naval Air Station were supposed to be diplomatic and non-political, "I understand there is now a commercial on television which talks about these matters.

"I'm not sure which role he plays in these commercials -- whether he is Premier or a candidate.'' Mr. Edness said Mr. Wade did not understand how Government worked. "The country doesn't stop working just because the writ is dropped,'' Mr. Edness said. "That's why the Government remains the Government until it is officially replaced.'' Government gave notice weeks ago that it was setting up a health care review and would announce a chairman. It was a non-partisan committee, and there was no reason not to announce it, he said.

"Although he still has the responsibility, any responsible Cabinet Minister doesn't use his Ministerial office to assist him during the campaign,'' Mr.

Edness said. "He simply carries out what needs to be carried out for the running of the country.'' The line, however, is not always clear. Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul held a news conference in the Cabinet Building yesterday to reply to Opposition attacks. A reporter later asked whether it was a Government or United Bermuda Party news conference. An official explained that it was a Government news conference because it was a Government minister answering criticism.

"It does tend to blur in your mind,'' he added. Complaints like those Mr.

Wade made yesterday are not new. In Canada, which has a Westminster-style Parliament like Bermuda's, Prime Minister Ms Kim Campbell has made a flurry of announcements during the current election campaign, sometimes while being jetted around the country at Government expense.

That has provoked howls from the Opposition parties. PHOTO Mr. Frederick Wade.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION