The Progressive Labour Party is recommending that a revamped single seat electoral map for Bermuda contain 32 constituencies.

Party supporters have been sworn to secrecy over the details of the submission - which was revealed to key players as well as a number of rank and file members at a meeting almost two weeks ago.

The party has argued that to make the submission public would compromise the integrity of the electoral reform process.

The party's stance, while heavily criticised, has left the public speculating.

However, the number of people in the know has increased beyond the 50 odd people who attended the semi-public meeting chaired by party leader and Premier, Jennifer Smith. And the number 32, previously unheard of in the context of electoral reform, consistently pops up in political conversations.

PLP supporter and commentator Rolfe Commissiong, one of several members who oppose keeping a lid on the submission, said the party had chosen a number that most Bermudians can live with, and Government is missing an opportunity to prove its opponents wrong.

"I am not prepared to say what the figure is," he said. "I know the figure. I find it somewhat bizarre that the Government will not take advantage of the fact that for months there has been wild speculation by the opponents of electoral reform." Critics had warned that Government was attempting to create a dictatorship by imposing a legislature of close to 20 seats, he continued.

"And while I am not prepared to divulge the number, I will say there is a number that greatly exceeds that which the critics had been postulating was the Government's position on this issue."

Mr. Commissiong, who has gone on the public record to say he would be happy with anywhere between 30 and 35 seats, said he was personally satisfied with his party's recommendation.

And he and other supporters say that the number chosen was an even number. That issue was a bone of contention among party stalwarts - with some saying that the number should be an uneven one to avoid electoral deadlock.

"It is, as far as I know, an even number. In that sense I am a little bit disappointed because they should have opted for an odd number. If there is a deadlock you're going to have to go to the British to settle the whole affair - which in the New Bermuda is unacceptable."

He also predicted the Boundaries Commissioners may well broker a compromise between the two parties and recommend a higher number than the PLP has suggested.

"There hasn't been any significant debate within the ranks of the PLP on this issue nor at the Government level. So in my opinion you're forced to grow and mature politically when you can sit down and debate on issues such as this. It is far healthier to have these discussions than it is to preclude them," he added.

The Commission is currently deliberating its recommendations on the number, and boundaries of, a new electoral system.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) publicly released its submission last week. It is calling for 39 elected MPs and one independently appointed speaker, as well as a constitutional conference to hash out the implications of reducing the size of the legislature.

Government Senator Calvin Smith admitted to not really caring what happened to the size of Parliament as long as the system was changed from a dual seat arrangement to single seats. "I was rather indifferent to the reduction. I could have made as many arguments for it as against it. But the key thing was there should be equal seats," he said.

"The difficulty I have with regard to doing anything with the numbers is how do you handle the consequences. That is what has to be dealt with - if you increase them there are consequences, if you reduce them there are consequences." Citing "party loyalty" he refused to give any hints as to what the numbers are, but he said he found it difficult to support the decision to keep the submission secret.

Almost immediately after some 50 people voted on the party's submission at a meeting chaired by Ms Smith almost two weeks ago, VSB radio speculated that the number recommended was 30.

The Royal Gazette sources, however, denied that, but said on condition of anonymity that the VSB speculation was quite close. And the number 32 has been coming up quite frequently in political conversations.

It is also understood that the ruling party is asking the Commissioners to ignore parish boundaries - on the grounds that voter parity will be easier to achieve.