The Voters' Rights Association has been in talks with legal experts as it tries to tackle an alleged culture of bullying in Government.

The intimidation stems from the highest posts in elected Government, with rules of Ministerial conduct and Civil Service protocol regularly broken, vice president Stuart Hayward told a public meeting on Tuesday night.

Mr. Hayward said the VRA is encouraging the UK to assure good governance in Bermuda, and investigating other ways of helping victims.

Speaking at the first annual general meeting of the group, Mr. Hayward recapped how the group had submitted evidence of bullying throughout the Civil Service to Britain's Foreign Affairs Committee in January.

"We had immediate responses: calls, e-mails, visits: all reinforcing the rumours," said Mr. Hayward. "Some of the victims had been given severance payments that included non-disclosure agreements. In other words they were paid not to tell what had happened to them.

"Others were transferred into similar but less sensitive positions. Still others were threatened with loss of job and loss of credibility if they did not knuckle under.

"We interviewed one young woman who had been browbeaten, falsely accused and fired.

"Some just quit, but are too professional to take their cases further. Very few have the documentation to bring an ironclad case forward.

"And none know the details of the others — hence, all the victims have felt isolated, fearful and powerless.

"The most sobering aspect of this saga is that the intimidation emanates from the highest posts in our elected government.

"The rules of proper Ministerial conduct and Civil Service protocol are being broken frequently, with impunity, and almost as a matter of course."

Mr. Hayward told the meeting, in Hamilton's Wesley Methodist Church, that efforts would be made to network the victims to give them united strength.

President Geoff Parker told the meeting that meeting the VRA's long-term goals of protecting and enhancing the rights of individuals would not be easy.

He said he hoped membership would increase significantly over the next year, adding: "Through numbers we become a force to be reckoned with.

"Through membership fees and donations we also secure funds critical to cover the legal costs of getting the Voters' Bill of Rights before parliament by next November, 2009."

To report bullying or for more information on the VRA, call 333 2872.