Supporters of Premier Jennifer Smith are in danger of practising cult worship says race activist Dr. Eva Hodgson.

She is urging supporters of her brother Arthur Hodgson to make a stand to ensure a contest for the leadership of the country and the Progressive Labour party goes ahead.

And Dr. Hodgson challenged Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott who in Monday's paper had said Ms. Smith was the reason why the PLP won.

Dr. Hodgson, who is a PLP party member, said: "I believe it's the reason why many PLP MPs find her arrogant because she's been told she's the reason why they won.'' Dr. Hodgson credited former leader Freddie Wade for healing party rifts and for tolerating different strains of opinion in the party while she said blacks who had previously avoided voting gave the party the vital edge at the 1998 election. "The attitude that says the Premier really won it really contributes to a kind of cult worship -- it didn't work when Pam Gordon was Premier. "I don't think cult worship is good for the black community. Under the UBP we were always viewed as having little value.

"If we have a leader who is aloof it merely continues, there's isn't a change in attitude.

"A lot of black Bermudians place a lot of importance on people who achieve power and give them undue regard.

"I am unhappy about the assumption that anyone who challenges the leadership would be a traitor or bring disaster to the party.

"To say having a competition for the leadership is going to be disastrous is like the UBP saying you can't change Government because that is going to be disastrous. It's the same mentality.'' Leadershipchallenge She said a leadership challenge was a sign of a healthy democracy but Dr.

Hodgson claimed there were many in the black community who were interested in the PLP being in power but they weren't bothered what it did with it.

"I feel they should recognise they have a responsibility to hold the PLP accountable.

"There won't be a challenge unless the people who want it are very aggressive in doing all that is necessary to support someone else.

"I am certain the Environment Minister would benefit the party. I am very biased obviously.

"He likes mediation - he doesn't like confrontation. He knows who he is and that's important. There's nothing insecure about him.

"If a person is insecure they are likely to be punitive -- I am not making that point about the Premier -- but about people generally.

"When people are insecure they are likely to be guided by personal concerns rather than principles.

"He's well grounded in his convictions both politically and theologically.'' She also said Mr. Hodgson had earned four degrees -- in law, education, economics, and politics, philosophy and economics -- which gave him experience in a lot of areas.

"He was there at the party's inception and worked for it even when he had no title.

"He has run his own business so he knows the ups and downs of small business and he has been a teacher and an education administrator.'' Asked what Mr. Hodgson stood for, Dr. Hodgson said: "Greater parity between races.'' Dr. Hodgson said the PLP needed to address the issue of income tax. And she added: "I would like to have seen the PLP bring about more dramatic change and in situations where it was not possible I would have liked to see them begin to discuss it.''