Senators clashed angrily yesterday after the United Bermuda Party accused Premier Jennifer Smith of trying to "hoodwink'' the Country by presenting a plagiarised report about an overseas conference.

And Opposition Senator Mark Pettingill rejected a demand from Government Senator Michael Scott that he withdraw the comments and apologise.

Sen. Pettingill said it was disgraceful that the Premier presented a report to the House of Assembly on Friday on the UK/Caribbean Forum in London without acknowledging large parts had been lifted from an official communique.

Senators clash over Premier's `lifted' speech Senator Pettingill said: "I was nothing less than appalled with regard to what transpired when the Premier gave the report.'' Sen. Scott said Sen. Pettingill was impugning the veracity of the report and the Premier.

"He's taken three swipes at the Leader of the Country and it must stop. It's gratuitous attacks on the Leader of this Country and it must stop,'' he said.

He said it was "mis-characterisation of the highest order'' and claimed he had taken words from Opposition Leader Pam Gordon who was "famous for running off at the mouth''.

Sen. Pettingill replied: "The Premier presented a report that was taken in large part from somewhere else. If she's going to make a report, say where you got it from or do your own work and reflect on what you saw.'' Government Senate Leader Milton Scott rejected the charge of plagiarism, stating all the members of the conference had agreed on the statement to prevent misinformation being spread.

He said the attack was ironic because the UBP did not always report on overseas business but the PLP Government always did.

He called on Sen. Pettingill to "be accurate and not mislead the public''.

He said that when the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development report on dodgy tax jurisdictions came out next month, the people would be able to judge whether money spent on overseas trips to lobby had been worthwhile.

UBP Sen. Kim Swan said if the Premier had explained it was a collective report from the conference the problems would be dispelled.

He said it was important the Premier's reports to the House were accurate because she was not forthcoming with the media and the Country was left in a vacuum about what she was doing when the House was not sitting.

PLP Sen. Calvin Smith said the Opposition tactics of undermining Government attempts to revitalise tourism were "disturbing, counter-productive and not designed to help Bermuda''.

He said the constant reference to overseas travel was "politicking at its worst'' because it appealed to black Bermudians who, because of past segregation, did not know that business travel was not fun.

"Our people don't know that because they were excluded from entry. This is designed to frustrate a big hunk of the vote they know comes our way with trivial gossip,'' he said.

PLP Sen. David Burch said: "I am convinced beyond all doubt that the Opposition have decided they are prepared to see Bermuda destroyed before they let this Government have any success, aided and abetted by their friends in the media.'' He said there should be prominent coverage of the positive news that crime had fallen by 15 percent.

Independent Sen. Jeanette Cannonier appealed to both sides to stop the mud-slinging.