fire the TV and radio broadcasting commissioners.

Opposition Senate leader Alex Scott caused a sensation by declaring there would be "a whole new slate of people all round'' when the PLP grabbed power.

But his outburst was roundly condemned by Government Senate leader and Telecommunications Minister the Hon. Mike Winfield.

He said the Opposition had served notice it would trample on democracy by firing the Commissioners.

And he accused Sen. Scott of showing his true colours and his party's "sinister'' agenda.

"I am shocked and dismayed by the people of the PLP. It's a fundamental attack on democracy,'' he said.

The clash occurred as Sen. Winfield was wrapping up a lengthy debate on the proposed radio regulations.

The regulations tighten up controls on what goes out on the air.

In particular, callers to talks shows must give their names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

Opposition Senators branded the regulations "repressive'', "sinister'', and an attack on freedom of speech.

And they feared the commissioners would be able to censor what is broadcast, and use that power to disadvantage the PLP.

Sen. Scott interrupted Sen. Winfield's wrap-up speech, by saying there would be new commissioners once the PLP was elected to Government.

"There will be a whole new slate of people all round,'' he added.

Sen. Winfield said that meant the commissioners would be fired.

The regulations were later passed by a margin of eight votes to three.

Independent Senators Joe Johnson and Norma Astwood sided with the United Bermuda Party in pushing the proposals through against PLP objections.

At the outset, Sen. Winfield said the only difference between the proposed sound/radio regulations and the television regulations was a seven-second delay provision.

Radio stations would be required to have a delay of seven seconds when conducting live interviews or phone-ins, he explained.

Stations would be able to purchase a simple piece of equipment which would allow them to "dub or cut off'' anything a person says that they felt could be offensive, he said.

Sen. Scott said Government had "indicated it was not overly concerned about freedom of expression'' by supporting the regulations.

He submitted the regulations were "more for the protection of the UBP''. The party's executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons had admitted it had taken a "beating'' on phone-in shows.

He added it was "peculiar'' that the legislation, which Government has said had been in the works for years, was being brought forth "on the eve of an election''.

Sen. Astwood admitted there would be pressure on radio staff to be alert to any obscenity going out on air.

It would not be easy to check an obscenity in its tracks and keep the flow of the programme.

She added she hoped Bermudians would not be put off from calling talk shows.

Government Sen. Maxwell Burgess accused the Opposition of "gross hypocrisy'' and said the legislation was aimed at protecting people from unfair attacks.