The first public statement on a row over the appointment of an Honorary Canadian Consul could be made today.

Premier Jennifer Smith is to report to the House of Assembly on her latest trips abroad.

And that included a visit to Overseas Territories Minister Baroness Symons in London, where the Bermuda Government's bid to block the appointment of top lawyer Saul Froomkin to the post was set to be discussed.

But yesterday staff at Government Information Services were playing their cards close to their chests on the Consulship controversy.

A spokeswoman said: "She probably will comment on that -- she may not give any details about it, but she may make a comment.

"It's likely she would probably include it in her statement.'' And the Opposition United Bermuda Party are likely to tackle the dispute over Mr. Froomkin with all guns blazing.

The attack -- set to be led by Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt -- will concentrate on demands for a full explanation of why the Bermuda Government has become embroiled in an international dispute over an honorary position.

Opposition leader Pamela Gordon pointed out last night that Progressive Labour Party veteran Dame Lois Browne Evans had served as the Honorary Consul for Jamaica for decades -- only giving it up recently after the PLP took over the reins of power.

Ms Gordon said: "This is ridiculous and smacks of vindictiveness. Jamaica presented Dame Lois' name -- she is a respected person in Bermuda.

"We didn't think it was appropriate to block it and we wouldn't have blocked it.'' The Royal Gazette exclusively revealed two weeks ago that Bermuda had objected to the suggestion of Mr. Froomkin -- a friend of Canadian External Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy.

And it later emerged that Ms Smith had written to Mr. Axworthy to say Mr.

Froomkin was "not welcome'' as his country's representative on the Island.

It is believed that the PLP are still smarting over Mr. Froomkin's role in the UBP's bid to have the first political Attorney General of modern times, Dame Lois, blocked from the job on age grounds.

Mr. Froomkin appeared for the UBP in the court hearing where a judge ruled in favour of Dame Lois.

Premier may speak on Consul flap And he threatened to sue Ms Smith in 1997 over "serious and malicious slander'' when she made comments about the sex assault case involving then-PLP MP Rev. Trevor Woolridge.

Ms Smith was forced to back down and issued a full apology.

Consular appointments are a matter for Canada and the UK, which handles foreign policy for its Overseas Territories.

Overseas Territories are then informed and convention dictates the appointments are accepted without argument.

Ms Gordon branded the move as "offensive'' and insisted that, in the past, objections could only be raised on grounds like criminal convictions or a potential security risk.