hours of Parliament before the General Election.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell coined a new phrase to the delight of his UBP colleagues, teasing their PLP counterparts about the fact that no date has been set for a TV debate between the two parties' leaders.

"They've nothing to say, so they're staying away,'' he said to loud cheers from the Government benches during last night's Motion to Adjourn.

UBP members even started making chicken noises at their Opposition rivals, ridiculing them for saying they will only debate once an election date has been set.

And Mr. Dodwell claimed it would be a "mistake'' to hold the election in July or August -- when college students are home but many families are away on holiday.

"Many people travel,'' he said. "These are adults between the ages of 25 and 40 but the Opposition is saying don't include these people and have the election in July or August.'' PLP leader Jennifer Smith , defending her party for not setting out an election platform, claimed calls for the Opposition's agenda from Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons were "electioneering''.

She said the PLP would pay for their policies just like any other Government.

"It will be through taxes that are raised through the people,'' she said.

"Everybody knows that a new Government can't dismantle the whole tax structure.'' Opposition MPs began a series of cat-calls to Government MPs across the floor of the House, urging them to name the date for the election.

"Set the debate and let us go and have the debate within that context,'' said Ms Smith.

"We are saying we are ready to debate when you set the date.'' Ms Smith also shot down remarks from some Government MPs that Lois Browne Evans , the PLP's leader emeritus, was in fact the party's "real'' leader -- and said UBP members needed to learn respect.

But Premier Pamela Gordon said Ms Browne Evans had launched into a "vitriolic attack'' on the black members of the UBP with a claim they had allowed themselves to be used.

And she returned to the theme of the PLP not presenting a platform, adding: "Criticism isn't a programme. They just sit on the sidelines.

"It's not a matter of `oh well, it continues the next day when a new Government comes in'.

"Unfortunately the Opposition seem to believe their own rhetoric. They believe this pie-in-the-sky ideal.

"It's helpful to the people of this country to hear where we want to go. I'm quite prepared for a debate. I will hold my own and I will not shame this party.

"But it's as my honourable colleague said, they've nothing to say, so they're staying away.'' Mrs. Browne Evans was warned by retiring Speaker Ernest DeCouto "not to impute improper motives'' when she said: "I know of nobody who's joined the UBP and been the worse off for it.'' Health Minister Wayne Furbert shouted that the veteran MP should retire.

But she said: "The short time he's been in the UBP, he's fattened his calf.'' The Speaker defused the row before Ms Browne-Evans went on to accuse Government of a smear campaign.

She claimed they prompted a recent Royal Gazette story in which former employees of Dr. Ewart Brown criticised the way they were treated.

And the former Opposition Leader also had harsh words for the Premier, claiming she needed to separate her constitutional role from her position as leader of the UBP.