About one thousand extra copies of the Boundaries Commission Report on electoral reform will be available from Government Information Services tomorrow, it was announced at public meetings this week.

The news comes weeks after complaints surfaced about lack of access to the report shortly after it was tabled in the House of Assembly last month.

Initially 200 copies were printed, but they were snapped up within days and most of them went to politicians.

The report was, however, printed in full in this newspaper and is available on The Royal Gazette web-site (www.theroyalgazette.com), the United Bermuda Party (web-site) and the Government web-site.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said at the time that more hard copies would be made available if there was a clear demand, but that a charge may have to be applied.

Yesterday, a GIS spokesperson confirmed that free copies of the report will be available as early as today.

While some were grateful for the news when it was first announced at a public meeting on electoral reform on Tuesday night, MP John Barritt told The Royal Gazette that the reprint was coming too late given that the House of Assembly is scheduled to debate the report tomorrow.

"I thought that the report should have been made available to people at some form or another even at a cost and much earlier than now," he said. "I mean what is Government trying to achieve by now printing copies and making them available on the day of the debate? It seems to me that the Government is saying frankly we are not interested in your view and this is the way it will be. And I have to say that's what crossed my mind at yesterday's meeting when they left it to the civil servants."

He said it was inappropriate having civil servants leading the meeting because there were political issues that need to be aired.

The Government sponsored meetings are aimed at educating people about the process, and impact, of the reforms and focusing on the recommended constituencies.

The last of the three meetings take place tomorrow evening at St. Paul's Centennial Hall and will concentrate on the new constituencies in the central parishes, covering most of Devonshire, all of Pembroke and Paget and most of Warwick.

Mr. Barritt said: "People want to know not just what is going on, but why they should accept what is being proposed. These are questions that politicians need to answer."

One woman who attended the first meeting at Clearwater Middle School said that she thought the meeting, while technical, was quite useful.

"It answered all the questions that I had and I thought that the information was clearly presented. You had enough information," she said.

But when asked if she was less anxious about electoral reform than she was six months ago, she said "No. The information I was given was technical but it hasn't answered the political issues."

And others said they were relieved to hear that they would not have to reregister once the revamped system is in place.