More power likely for island Single-seat consitituencies possible Britain has opened the door to massive cuts in the number of Island MPs and an end to twin-seat constituencies, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans confirmed Premier Jennifer Smith had raised the issue as she kicked off the first session on constitutions at the inaugural meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in London yesterday. Dame Lois said: "It was a constitutional point and I know the PLP's constitutional position. "The UK is happy at receiving everybody's opinions -- I don't know exactly how they would do it.'' Ms Smith, however, was staying tight-lipped over her first major speech at a UK conference. She said: "It was a very good first day.'' But later, Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Derek Taylor said Britain was looking favourably on giving Overseas Territories more power over their own affairs.

The PLP in its election-winning manifesto last year pledged to work towards single-seat constituencies of equal size -- which could slash the number of MPs to 20 or less and require major changes to the current Constitution.

And Britain appears to have approved a more Territory-approached base to constitutional change, with the likelihood of special groups drawn from Parliaments and Legislative Councils, together with non-political experts.

Mr. Taylor said: "Basically, what's happening with the Overseas Territories, they have an opportunity to deal with constitutional changes from within -- coming from the people themselves.

"We have the green light to go ahead on having our own constitutional committees.'' He said a select committee could be taken from the Legislative Councils -- or, preferably, created outside the councils along with elected members. Mr.

Taylor added: "The opportunity to do that would go for all Territories.

"Prior to that, we would have a Constitutional convention, which would come down with an agenda.'' In the past, Constitutional conferences in Bermuda have included not only politicians, but UK civil servants and MPs as well.

The closed meeting yesterday also discussed crackdowns on the growing offshore industry -- now Bermuda's biggest earner -- and threats from multi-national bodies like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Turks and Caicos, like Bermuda, relies almost completely on tourism and international business for its earnings.

Mr. Taylor said the issue had also come up at a recent meeting of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers -- also attended by Bermuda.

He said: `We have been addressing these issues as Overseas Territories -- the question is not about offshore financial services, but international financial services.

"It was suggested they look at the offshore and the onshore as well.'' The news came as the UK's senior law lord in the House of Lords said the Privy Council should be axed as the final court of appeal for the Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries.

Speaking in The Times law supplement, Lord Browne-Wilkinson said that the court was overloaded with work.

And he added: "I think that the practice whereby a court in London seeks to decide what a country in the Caribbean should or should not do is not proving very satisfactory and our decisions in death row cases are now not very well received.'' Number of MPs could be cut Britain's White Paper on a new deal for the colonies released earlier this year promised to set up the Consultative Council to give the Overseas Territories a bigger voice. But the UK also signalled it wanted an end to hanging and flogging -- already banned by London in the Caribbean Overseas Territories.

Bermuda still retains both on the statute books, although the PLP Government are overwhelmingly against the death penalty.

But Lord Browne-Wilkinson said: "You can believe in the death penalty or you cannot, but the problem I think -- and this is just a personal view -- is that to let those countries decide for themselves would be better for everybody.'' Some Caribbean Commonwealth countries are moving towards a Caribbean Court of Justice in a bid to avoid the Privy Council overturning death verdicts. But Dame Lois said last night: "I certainly don't support the abolition of the Privy Council.'' Dame Lois Browne Evans