Government's silence over Britain's rewrite of relations with its colonies is "deafening'', Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons claimed yesterday.

And he called on the Progressive Labour Party administration to fully explore the UK's White Paper proposals -- and make sure Bermudians are fully informed of the implications.

Dr. Gibbons said: "There is a need for full and frank disclosure with the Bermudian people because this issue is too important to be handled in any secret or partisan way.

"Although several public forums have been held already to discuss White Paper issues, none has been initiated by the Government.'' He also insisted Government should be pushing ahead to implement legislation drawn up last year by the then-United Bermuda Party Government.

Dr. Gibbons said that the Investment Business Licensing Act and the Deposit Taking Business Act was "putting Bermuda behind'' in complying with international standards on financial regulation.

He added: "The UBP will be pressing the Government on this issue in the summer session of the House of Assembly, which starts on Friday.'' Dr. Gibbons was speaking after Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon and he, as well as other Opposition figures met top Foreign Office official John White, head of the Overseas Territories Department and Economic Relations Department Civil Servant of the Economic Relations Department.

The UK officials are in Bermuda for the annual meeting of the Attorneys General of the Overseas Territories, which opened yesterday.

The UBP delegation, which also included Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt and Shadow Works Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, said Bermudians should keep "an open mind'' on the proposals in the White Paper.

And a statement by the four added that judgment "should be reserved until they receive more information about how Bermuda will be affected, particularly in the area of financial regulation''.

Dr. Gibbons added that the review paper was a skeleton on which Britain still had to hang some meat.

He said: "My colleagues and I have always maintained that the devil is in the details.

"We will need to know much more before we can determine with any certainty the advantages and disadvantages of what is proposed.'' But he added: "On balance, the White Paper does present Bermudians with some apparent advantages, the most striking examples being the option to take up British citizenship and the right of entry and to work.'' Dr. Gibbons said these advantages had already struck a chord, particularly with young Bermudians anxious to forge a career.

But he added: "We also need to explore thoroughly the responsibilities of citizenship, in addition to its rights and privileges.'' Dr. Gibbons said it was expected the UK would start independent reviews of all its Territories within the next few months.

He added that those reviews would most likely be followed by discussions with individual OTs on what they had to do to bring their rules on finance and business into line with international standards.

But Dr. Gibbons said the Island was "generally well-positioned'' in relation to global regulations and in the "quality of its regulatory system''.