next Governor could help the Island establish stronger ties with Britain and the European Community, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said yesterday.

But Opposition MPs said they would watch Lord Waddington's handling of capital punishment cases carefully, based on his support of the death penalty.

Sir John said Lord Waddington's position at the centre of British Government meant he would be familiar with changes in Europe and the rest of the world.

Sir John said he was disappointed that he had not been consulted over the appointment, but said Lord Waddington's credentials were in line with the criteria he had outlined to Foreign Secretary Mr. Douglas Hurd last year.

Sir John and National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell also praised Governor Sir Desmond Langley, saying he had served the Island well during his three-year tenure.

Sir John said he had not been consulted over Lord Waddington's appointment although he discussed the criteria for the next Governor Mr. Hurd last year.

"There was no consultation, but once the choice was made, I could not fault his credentials,'' said Sir John.

He said he hoped Lord Waddington's presence in Bermuda would help counter the Island's natural gravitation towards North America.

And he said he did not think Lord Waddington's views in favour of capital punishment would cause any constitutional difficulties with Britain, which has asked Bermuda to abolish the death penalty.

"The British Government recognises that with our constitutional set up, that short of an Order in Council, which they apparently do not want to exercise, that Bermudians are very single-minded and I do not see where they will interfere with the process.'' Acting Opposition Leader Mr. Eugene Cox said Lord Waddington's 20-plus years of experience in Westminster would serve the Island well.

"On the basis of the information we have, I would say that he seems to have considerable experience and his knowledge of the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate should be an asset as he carries out his job,'' Mr. Cox said.

"We also have heard about his views on hanging and we do not want to second guess him. But we as a party will wait and see how he performs on the issues.

"But on the basis of his vast political experience and the fact he is in a position of putting his politics aside, we will judge him on his performance.'' Mr. Cox said he hoped Lord Waddington would be able to use his experience and persuasiveness to move Bermuda forward constitutionally and he hoped he would leave much of the administration of internal security to local officials.

Mr. Cox said the PLP was concerned that local leaders had apparently not been consulted on the appointment of the Governor and said the PLP would like to see both the Premier and the Opposition Leader consulted on a short list.

"If you want the best person for a country, then there is no harm in consulting with the leaders of the country,'' he said.

Mr. Darrell said he had been informed of the announcement by Sir Desmond Langley on Monday about the new appointment.

He praised Sir Desmond's tenure in Bermuda, saying he had always been affable and made himself accessible to the NLP.

"He has not been controversial and he and his wife have worked hard at being quite jolly with people. We wish them Godspeed.'' He said Sir Desmond's rejection of a proposal to have Policemen represented by lawyers at disciplinary hearings had gone against the NLP's wishes, but he said the Governor had given the party a fair hearing on the issue and had then done what he felt was right.

GOVERNOR IN WAITING -- Lord Waddington in October 1991. -- Reuter.