Premier Alex Scott said last night that Finance Minister Eugene Cox gave his life for his country as he battled on in office, despite fighting desperately against cancer.

Paraphrasing the Bible, Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette: "Greater love has no man than he who would lay down his life for his country.

"In this case it can particularly be said about Eugene Cox. We knew he was ill, we knew he was fighting a very difficult battle."

In a glowing tribute to his Finance Minister, who succumbed to stomach cancer on Friday aged 75, Mr. Scott said he had expressed concern, but Mr. Cox had been keen to carry on in office.

"He and I had conversations about whether he felt he was up to continuing.

"He expressed very clearly that if I felt he could not do the job to the satisfaction of the criteria, then please tell him."

But Mr. Scott said he was convinced his colleague was equal to the task and that by asking to continue it was typical of a life long career of service.

"Mr. Cox on half speed is quicker than most men on double speed. He would advise me on financial matters in a way to let me know he was equal to the job.

"If he felt he was equal to the task, I wasn't prepared to ask him to do otherwise.

"His commitment to his family and his dedication to serving Bermuda was total. I wasn't surprised."

The Premier said he had been on official business overseas when Mr. Cox told The Royal Gazette last monththat it might be time to "take a break" after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

But the two never spoke about the timing of his retirement before Mr. Cox flew out to Boston for treatment.

Speaking from Singapore on his way back from Australia, Mr. Scott said of the death: "It is very, very sad. I don't mind admitting that on the other side of the globe I have shed a tear or two."

Mr. Scott is cutting short his holiday in order to be back in time for the official funeral, which is likely to equal the official send-off given to Tourism Minister David Allen, who died in office in 2002.

Details of Mr. Cox's funeral later this week are set to be announced today after a meeting of the Government ceremony committee.

Cabinet Secretary John Drinkwater said: "There will be a meeting first thing Monday morning and we will make some kind of an announcement after that."

Works and Engineering Minister Terry Lister is currently acting Finance Minister but Mr. Scott said there would be no announcement on successors until Bermuda had gone through the formal grieving process.

"We don't want to confuse the two issues, we are just concerned about Mr. Cox and his family right now.

"We are deeply sad at the loss, he had become for the party a father figure, and for the government and the country I think the same is true.

"I explained to Mrs. Cox and Paula Cox that in life he had supported both the party and the country and now we, the country, are going to support the family."