yesterday as it derailed Government plans to have Dr. David Dyer named Speaker.

Instead, the PLP backed former United Bermuda Party Deputy Speaker Mr. Ernest DeCouto, who was elected by secret ballot in a 22-17 vote.

Mr. DeCouto, 67, and three other Government MPs broke ranks with the UBP.

Miffed when the caucus split with tradition and nominated Government Whip Dr.

Dyer in place of the Deputy Speaker, Mr. DeCouto said he was "absolutely delighted'' by the turn of events.

"I was quite confident that somebody would recognise my service over the last 10 years,'' as Deputy Speaker and a member of the Chair Panel, Mr. DeCouto said outside the House. "It just shows what a secret ballot will do.'' If elected, Dr. Dyer would have been the first black Speaker of the House of Assembly.

While he congratulated Mr. DeCouto, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan criticised the Opposition, saying the PLP "obviously did not want'' the first black Speaker named.

"They're always talking about the need for blacks to have progress, and to have real role models,'' Sir John told The Royal Gazette . "But it was more expedient for them to go against that fundamental principle.'' Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade hit back, saying it was Sir John who was "being racist'' over the Speaker.

"He's trying to put a black man in the chair,'' Mr. Wade said. "We were trying to put the best man in the chair.

"The PLP is not interested in race,'' he said. "We act on merit. If they would act on merit there would be no glass ceiling in the first place.'' Dr. Dyer, who saw what is usually a formality transformed into an embarrassment, said the decision of the UBP caucus should have been respected by backbenchers.

"I think it's interesting that we have party politics in Bermuda and we have members of the UBP who don't understand what party politics really mean,'' said Dr. Dyer. "Having made a majority decision, you have to stick by it.'' St. George's South MP Mrs. Grace Bell and newly-elected Smith's South MP Mr.

Trevor Moniz joined Mr. DeCouto in supporting a PLP motion to elect the Speaker by secret ballot.

On the secret ballot, they were joined in supporting Mr. DeCouto by another Government MP whose identity was unknown. All PLP members voted for Mr.

DeCouto. Only Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira was absent.

Governor Lord Waddington and the Throne Speech were kept waiting as MPs wrangled over the Speaker until 10.40 a.m.

With House Clerk Mr. James Smith presiding, Opposition Whip Mr. Stanley Lowe jumped up and nominated Mr. DeCouto even before Dr. Dyer's name was put forward by Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

Mr. Wade then moved that the Speaker be elected by secret ballot. For the 25 years he had been in the House of Assembly, it was the Deputy Speaker who became Speaker, Mr. Wade said. While the PLP had disagreed with Mr. DeCouto's rulings in the past, "at the end of the day we cannot but opt for experience''.

A secret ballot was used to elect the Speaker in Canada and would prevent bias against MPs who did not support the Speaker chosen.

Sir John said Mr. Wade was demonstrating hypocrisy.

First, he called on the House to follow tradition, then to use a secret ballot, the Premier said. "The honourable member has to make up his mind which he believes in.'' And while Mr. Wade said the Deputy Speaker should become Speaker, Sir John noted that the Opposition Leader nominated then UBP backbencher Mr. William Cox for the post in 1989. "He was not the Deputy Speaker.'' An open vote was the custom of the House, and a secret ballot was unnecessary "if we believe in what we stand for,'' Sir John said.

The PLP motion was made "for devious reasons,'' but "there will be no divisions on this side of the House,'' the Premier said. "This side of the House is committed to get on with the business of this House.'' After returning from the Senate, where they heard the Throne Speech, MPs elected new UBP MP Mr. Tim Smith as Deputy Speaker.

The PLP put forward three notices of motion for the next sitting on Friday.

Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Mr. Walter Roberts moved that garbage collection return to twice weekly from weekly.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott moved that compulsory voter registration be moved to once every 10 years, from every year.

And Mr. Wade moved that Government train Bermudians to run the Civil Air Terminal and act to assure closure of the US Naval Air Station would not cause "great economic or other hardship''.

Acting for Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons, who sits in the Senate, Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto tabled an order making parrot fish a protected species and regulations setting new admission fees for the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, effective on April 1.

Adults are to pay $6, up from $5, while local seniors and children five to 12 will pay $3, up from $2.

There was no debate on the motion to adjourn. PHOTO The Hon. Ernest DeCouto.