The Premier should speak out over a Minister?s controversial comments about recalling the Governor, a Senator said yesterday.

But Government Senators responded to latest attack on Cabinet collective responsibility by stating that freedom of speech was enshrined in the Bermuda Constitution.

Opposition Senate Leader Sen. Swan yesterday questioned why Alex Scott has not commented on Housing Ministeroutburst about Sir John Vereker. As reported in , Sen. Burch criticised the selection process for a new Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment and said the Governor should be recalled.

And Sen. Swan yesterday told the Senate that, under the rules of Cabinet collective responsibility, he could only assume the silence from the Premier and the Cabinet on the issue meant that Sen Burch?s comments reflected their stance.

He said the issue was a matter of ?respect? ? and stated that the Premier and Cabinet should have disassociated themselves from Sen. Burch?s comments.

In response yesterday, said he was getting hints from the Opposition that they had ?great difficulty? with the concept of freedom of speech. It was protected by the Constitution and allowed people to speak out without fear of being persecuted or treated unfairly.

He added that under the UBP regime, radio talk shows were closed down before the 1998 election and, before the PLP took power, people had been afraid of speaking out for fear of retribution.

?They do not grasp that we are a democracy,? added Sen. Roban.

Fellow and hit out at UBP negativity.agreed that freedom of speech is an important part of democracy.

But he said that Ministers who want to exercise their right to freedom of speech, when that view is different to Cabinet, should resign ? then have their say.

Sen. Burch yesterday did not respond directly to Sen. Swan?s comments, which he branded a ?diatribe?. But he said the Opposition had a ?better track record of recalling Governors than we do?.