Making Governor Sir John Vereker take more of the heat over Policing in Bermuda was one of the issues raised by Premier Ewart Brown during this week's London summit.

He pointed out that Police in Bermuda are the ultimate responsibility of the Governor.

Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette: "I asked if there was a way to raise the profile of the Governor with respect to some of the issues of the Police, when people are criticising the performance of the Police or suggesting the way things could be changed operationally.

"The Governor has always said he's been involved — I would like to have him more involved publicly."

Dr. Brown agreed it would mean Sir John would "take more of the heat".

He added: "There have been a few instances when we feel he has been a little more hands-on — making direct contact with civil service.

"We take exception to that but I think we can work that out."

But he said chats with the Governor had been cordial and would remain so.

"We are both at work. "That's what we have to do."

Dr. Brown said pressures of time rather than political posturing are behind the push to bar Governors from attending Overseas Territories Consultative Council meetings.

Stressing his threat to not attend the annual London summit next year had not been a lone action he said Bermuda had joined with other territories in backing a communique read out by British Virgin Islands Chief Minister Orlando Smith.

He said it was a time issue as the British had other opportunities to meet Governors.

"The issue which the territories raised was why do that during our meeting time because we think there's insufficient time as it is to talk sufficiently with the Minister and Civil Servants. We want to maximise the time.

"We sent a collective message to Lord Triesman and it is his call." Dr. Brown also told Lord Triesman that Bermuda would not be putting names forward to be considered as candidates to be the next Governor.

The Premier had said it was up to the British to pick a candidate. "He understood it immediately. He understood it politically. He said he wished we could discuss it but he understood it."

He said the meetings with FCO useful and he had invited Lord Triesman to come to Bermuda. "We had a wonderful meeting with Lord Triesman during which we covered all of the issues we had planned to discuss with him. We found him to be a very receptive gentleman."

Lord Triesman said: "It was a pleasure to meet Dr Brown so early in his tenure as Premier and to have the opportunity to discuss issues with him at the OTCC. "We had a free and frank discussion on a variety of issues including nationality, airport screening and immigration and we agreed that we would look for ways to work together to enhance co-operation".

Dr. Brown denied this week's bold moves were part of the PLP's push for independence.

He said: "It's more than posturing. Just as the Governor's preference for not joining us for meetings at Cabinet. Some people might say that is posturing. I don't think so. He just doesn't want to come."

And he said he could not say if independence would be an election issue this time around because "we haven't decided".

He added: "I have always said independence will always be on the PLP stove. But now it's not on the front burner."

He said Bermuda would continue with its associate membership of CARICOM and become a full member after independence.

[obox]Tonight the Premier will be meeting more than a 100 Bermudian students at a dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London with the Premier's Chief of Staff Wayne Caines the keynote speaker.