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Probe may harm relations -- Barritt

the current crime probe could harm relations with Canada says Shadow Minister John Barritt.

And he said the handling of the Middleton issue should be the sole focus of the Commission of Inquiry rather than the wider issue of serious crime if vital lessons are to be learned.

Mr. Barritt, who is the United Bermuda Party's Legislative Affairs spokesman, said the eyes of the world were on the inquiry.

He said: "I think it will reflect very poorly on us if we don't make a better effort than we have been doing.

"It could have all sorts of repercussions if it looks like we are not making a genuine effort.'' Following the failure to convict anyone for the rape and murder of the 17-year-old there was a call for a Canadian boycott of Bermuda and tourist numbers fell.

Mr. Barritt said: "It's in the interests of Bermuda and Bermudians that we be seen to be concerned about what happened in the Middleton case.'' And Mr. Barritt is demanding to know why it was decided to also ask the Commission of Inquiry to tackle the issue of serious crime.

He said: "Let's face it, we know what prompted the establishment of the commission in the first place.

"It was a call for an inquiry into what went wrong in the Middleton case.

"But for reasons not known to the Opposition, nor ever explained, a decision was made to make the inquiry into serious crime and not Middleton specifically.

"If we are serious about inquiring into the Rebecca Middleton case I think we need to go back to the drawing board.

"What has transpired to this point is, to say the least, very disappointing.

"To omit the Middleton case in the terms of reference was a mistake -- a mistake that ought to be rectified.'' Despite their wider remit he said the three-person Commission was scratching around for things to do.

"But we in the Opposition think people will be interested to know what happened in the Middleton case, and what, if anything can be done to avoid any mistakes in future,'' he said.

"It isn't just idle curiosity that needs to be satisfied.

"Middleton should be the primary focus. As I said when I made the call for an inquiry on behalf of the Opposition - it's the very least we can do given the nature and extent of this tragedy and the widely-regarded travesty of justice.'' Mr. Barritt stressed that he wasn't attacking the Commissioners personally.

He said: "They are only operating within the parameters and budget which has been set for them.'' MURDER MUR CRIME CRM