Premier Jennifer Smith has refused to slam or back Government Senate Leader Milton Scott who called for Independent senators to be sacked for voting as a bloc with the Opposition.

A short statement issued by Government Information Services, on Ms Smith's behalf, said: "If the Government had a public statement to make on this matter, it would have done so.'' But last night Opposition Senator Kim Swan accused Government of ducking the issue and failing to live up to its promise of open Government.

The row continues to brew nearly a week after Sen. Scott, also Education Minister, called for the Governor, Thorold Masefield, to replace the three Independents in Senate.

The call sparked a major controversy, with the Opposition condemning Sen.

Scott for what he insisted was an attack on Bermuda's democratic system and the Constitution.

And Sen. Swan challenged the Premier to say whether Sen. Scott was speaking for Government or off his own bat.

Sen. Swan said Sen. Scott had "alarmed many in the country'' and added his statements were "detrimental to good governance'' -- as well as damaging to Bermuda's image abroad.

And he demanded an apology or clarification of the issue on what Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon branded an insult to the integrity of the Independents.

Sen. Swan said last night: "I think that it's most unfortunate that Government would deem such an important matter of so little importance.

"This is a matter of national concern which caused a stir and disquiet -- it was inappropriate and, most significantly, was done by a Cabinet Minister who said it on the floor of Senate.

"It's very bad that Government would just retreat into its shell and pretend it didn't happen -- it doesn't say much for `transparency'.

"They owe the people a response and this is totally inadequate.'' Sen. Scott lashed out during the final day of the Senate session last week -- after the three Independents united with the Opposition to block or amend Government bills.

He accused the three -- Senate President Alf Oughton, vice-president Walwyn Hughes and Sen. Jeanette Cannonier -- of failing to live up to their Independent label.

And Sen. Scott claimed the trio were "playing footsie with each other and frustrating the people's business''.

But afterwards he kept his head down and refused to comment on criticism of his stand -- or whether he was speaking for himself alone or Government.

The Independents voted with the Opposition to block a bid to allow middle managers to join the same union as their blue-collar workers.

Senate can block anything except a money bill for a year -- unless the Government of the day rewrites the law to take account of criticism and sends it back for approval.

The Independents also voted with the United Bermuda Party to axe an amendment to remove exemption from rent control from houses built after mid-1983.

And they would have blocked a controversial proposal to allow funeral limousines to operate in Bermuda if Sen. Cannonier had not accidentally voted with Government.

But both Sen. Oughton and Sen. Hughes denied they had a political agenda -- and insisted they voted in line with their conscience and without prior consultation with fellow Independents.

And they both pointed out that they had voted with Government in the past -- against the Opposition and independently of the other non-partisan senators.

Sen. Milton Scott: Footsie and frustration