out their constituents' needs.

Two of the party's Warwick candidates, Dr. Ewart Brown and Mr. Calvin Smith, made this clear at a press conference yesterday.

Their comments came on the heels of criticism from the United Bermuda Party and a Seventh Day Adventist member that the PLP was waging a "less than sincere'' church campaign in Warwick.

UBP executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons said: "It's going to take a great deal more than politicising people's Sunday morning church going to win four seats in Warwick''.

And a member of the Seventh Day Adventist's Southampton church told The Royal Gazette he spotted Mr. Smith sleeping during a service.

But yesterday Dr. Brown, who is running in Warwick West, said the PLP's Warwick candidates and branch members were saddened by the criticisms. "It is our belief that only through talking with our constituents, and establishing their needs can we offer them a clear vision for the future,'' he said.

"We are in total agreement with the (Warwick West MP) the Hon. Quinton Edness, `the people in Warwick are not stupid, they can see through a facade'.

"However, we believe that the people of Warwick appreciate honesty, sincerity and the efforts of our candidates to visit them wherever they are and whoever they are.'' Dr. Brown also pointed out that visiting churches at election time was not new and unique to PLP candidates. "Political candidates have been doing it for years,'' he said.

And he explained that the PLP was visiting churches in Warwick because it was a large parish.

"It's hard to visit each home,'' he said.

"Certainly we will continue to visit churches, not only in Warwick, but throughout Bermuda as we are aware that many members and supporters of the PLP are Christian people.

"And it is our belief that we should go to the people, no matter where they are, and not always expect them to come to us.'' In addition to visiting homes and churches in Warwick, Dr. Brown said PLP candidates in the parish were visiting rest homes and "other institutions where people gather''.

"But not only do we go to the people,'' he added, "we invite the people to come to us.'' An example of this, he said, was the PLP's Warwick Community Day scheduled for tomorrow at Warwick Secondary School field.

"However, this event too has drawn criticism,'' noted Mr. Smith, "although the PLP has held community days in various parishes for some years, although this is a first for Warwick.'' Mr. Smith, who is running in Warwick East, said "no one group should a have a monopoly on the organisation of a community day in any area of Bermuda''.

"It is our opinion that the stronger the family and the more community events held which bring the family together, the stronger the community.'' Mr. Smith added that instead of focusing on trivial matters, Government should be concentrating on more important issues.

"During the past 12 months we've seen the UBP through its organ, The Royal Gazette , get excited about things that are not important, like PLP candidates sleeping in church,'' he said. "But other important issues, like the health care system and institutional racism, have been put on the backburner.'' "This is a beautiful indication when an outcoming Government have a problem with the incoming Government going to church and holding community days,'' Dr.

Brown added. "We know we have them on the ropes. Now all we have to do is take them out.''