Concerns about access to the historic Boundaries Commission report, electoral reform fatigue and finding ways to give feedback to the British Government took centre stage last night at the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) first public meeting on the reforms.

And some of the party's supporters openly questioned the wisdom of the UBP's insistence on a constitutional conference before moving to a single seat electoral system.

A panel made up of party chairman Wayne Furbert, Leader Grant Gibbons and Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt, who served on the Commission, faced an audience of over 100, most of them white and elderly, at St. Paul Centennial Hall.

After a 20 minute rundown of the contents of the report, the audience was invited to give their feedback, a key part of the process of electoral reform, Mr. Barritt stressed.

He and Dr. Gibbons explained that while the party was generally happy with the report, it did raise some issues which should be dealt with by way of a constitutional conference.

Chief among those issues, Mr. Barritt explained, was the UBP's proposal to have an independently appointed unelected Speaker of the House, reform of the Senate, the maximum size of Cabinet and the mandate of future Boundaries Commissions.

The UBP is also concerned about the procedure for changing the Constitution.

"A referendum and a Constitutional Conference will flesh out the broader implications," Dr. Gibbons said.

He later urged the audience to make their views felt by calling their MPs, e-mailing the party headquarters or even Government House.

Concerns came up as to how a referendum would work and what would be on the agenda of a Constitutional conference.

Another questioner wanted to know how an independent speaker would be chosen and was told that there were several options.

Would the British Government give more weight to the Government's viewpoint if they decided not to support the Report, one woman asked.

"Notwithstanding any political paranoia that I may have it would be unlikely that would happen," responded Mr. Barritt.

"Not only would we be outraged up here," added Dr. Gibbons. "But quite a few people as well."

Sheilagh Robertson spoke for many in the hall by saying the central issue now was whether or not "this process should be prolonged extensively by taking on a second element of change" with a conference.

She said she supported the recommendation of 36 constituencies as "fair and reasonable" and that the configuration had boiled down to a "mathematical and geographical exercise".

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) should be given some credit, she added, for its initiative in starting the Island down the road to single seat constituencies.

"It should have been done a long time ago," she said.

"It indicates progress for a democratic society."

One UBP supporter suggested that the party should probably abandon its campaign for a conference or a referendum and focus on winning the next election.

"I know that the dual seat system can help us. It certainly has been demonstrated that we can lose," he said.

But as to the impact of single seats "nobody knows".

"I'm struggling to understand what is the benefit of frustrating the process further with more constitutional change which could be part of our party's platform... One man, one vote, one representative per constituency. To me its not bad at all."

Former UBP Senator Yvette Swan defended the focus on a conference.

"I don't believe under any conditions that the Constitution of a country should be changed by a simple majority or a voice vote in the House of Assembly," she said.

And she reminded the audience that some 8,000 Bermudians had signed a petition last year saying they wanted a conference or a referendum.

"A lot of people are still focussed on the idea that a big bad wolf is out to get their children," said Stanley Trott.

He pointed out that the Boundaries Commission had already taken nine months to come up with its report and a referendum or a conference would probably take another nine and not resolve the problems discussed.

"If a referendum does happen nobody's going to like it and they will demand another one," he said.

Dr. Gibbons responded by quoting a passage from the Koran: "Trust in God but tie your camel."

And he said a principle was being defended by advocating a conference.

"What would happen if we were in a different situation? If we were uncomfortable? Would you still be comfortable if the Constitution were to be changed by a very simple procedure ?"