HAROLD Darrell said he was left shocked and saddened at comments made by Premier Ewart Brown at a recent Progressive Labour Party banquet.

The Independent candidate spoke out after apparently being branded a "demented deviant" by the Premier.

Kicking off the election campaign two weeks ago, Dr. Brown gave a fiery speech to around 550 party members in which he branded Government opponents as "the most vicious and vile opponents in the history of our struggle".

And in an apparent swipe at Mr. Darrell, he referred to "a demented deviant believed to be complicit in the theft of stolen documents".

The Premier also accused Auditor General Larry Dennis of being "a vigilante" who, he alleged, went on a witch-hunt "with fellow criminal abettors".

"Each and every day will be critical, " Dr. Brown told about 550 party members.

"Each day you and I must awaken to the harsh reality that we are up against the most vicious and vile opponents in the history of our struggle. Remember that, and take note of the fact that vicious and vile is not all they are. They are scared. They are terrified. That is why they have authored and executed a smear campaign of gigantic proportions."

Referring to the Privy Council's decision to allow details of the BHC dossier to be made public, the Premier also quoted from the Psalms, adding: "I am protected by a power greater than the Privy Council."

Yesterday, Mr. Darrell, who has received death threats from at least one Government MP since going public, said: "I really don't know what to say in response to the Premier's remarks.

"The only response I can think of is a quote from Proverbs 26, verses 24 through 26 of the Bible, which states 'A malicious man makes a pretence of friendship but in his heart he remains unchanged. Do not believe a malicious man whose speech is charming, because his mind is full of evil thoughts. A malicious man might conceal his intentions with lies but his wickedness will be seen by everybody'."