denied any rift with the Premier.

Tongues had wagged after Mr. DeCouto seemed to overlook the Hon. Sir John Swan in the House on Friday.

Sir John rose at the same time as Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge to make a statement.

And he had to take his seat briefly, before Mr. Woolridge deferred to him.

Yesterday, however, Mr. DeCouto said Sir John had not given advance notice of his statement -- as was required.

"Ministerial statements are part of Government's legislative agenda, and the procedure is very simple.

"As Speaker I work from a prepared list by the clerk. Any statements a Minister wishes to make, he or she should advise the clerk.'' Mr. DeCouto said Sir John had later accepted that he had not given proper notice.

"We get on very well. We are friends,'' said Mr. DeCouto.

He also denied suggestions he deliberately failed to recognise Sir John when MPs were offering congratulations and condolences.

"You get a lot of people jumping up and down,'' he explained.

Mr. DeCouto was caught up in controversy when the United Bermuda Party caucus chose Dr. David Dyer as the next speaker.

But rebel UBP MPs joined the Progressive Labour Party to elect Mr. DeCouto in an unprecedented secret ballot.