Michael Dunkley has said he intends to announce a change to Cabinet before the resumption of Parliament next month.

The Premier also told The Royal Gazette that the House of Assembly’s summer session would begin on May 20, a delay of one week.

“Obviously everyone knows about the unfortunate resignation of Shawn Crockwell,” Mr Dunkley said, referring to Mr Crockwell’s decision on March 16 to step down as Minister of Tourism Development and Transport.

“I have been thinking about changes, and it was always my intention that changes be made before we go back.”

The Premier commended Grant Gibbons, who has handled the portfolio in the wake of Mr Crockwell’s resignation “very capably”. “There are a number of issues that he has managed to continue moving forward,” Mr Dunkley added.

There was “no problem” in connection with delaying Parliament: “The summer session is a long one and it’s important that we have legislation lined up so that we don’t have peaks and valleys in the agenda.”

On the issue of Brexit — the UK exit from the European European, which will be put to a referendum in June — Mr Dunkley said Bermuda’s position would necessarily be “a secondary approach to what the UK wants to do”.

However, he believed “communities and countries are better when they are connected; that’s the way of the world”.

Mr Dunkley stuck to his guns on defending Bermuda’s reputation in the wake of comments by Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the British Labour Party, that branded the island a centre for offshore banking, adding: “If someone wants to attack Bermuda they had better be willing to deal with what we will say back.”

Mr Dunkley said the island had “for decades been very open, compliant and accountable”.

“Our register of beneficial ownership was developed back in the 1940s. If you want to come and do business in Bermuda for the wrong reason, it’s not going to happen.”

Mr Dunkley said he had received no reply to his letter of April 13.

“The Opposition Leader has an important responsibility in the UK. I would love to see him speak of a position of knowledge.”

Britain’s referendum of June 23 coincides with a likely date for Bermuda’s own ballot on same-sex marriage and civil union.

Mr Dunkley said the notice would have to be published by May 11 and a referendum held at “an appropriate time”.

“I just urge all people to get involved. It’s a critical issue that the community is watching.”

Saying that he personally supported civil unions, the Premier said he “would much rather take it out of the hands of the courts”.

“It’s going to happen. I think people need to think about history and which side of history they want to be on.”