a personal document in the Premier's office.

Questioned about the incident yesterday, Bermuda Broadcasting Company general manager Mr. Malcolm Fletcher said reporter Mr. Stephen Burgess was "severely reprimanded'' and ordered to write a letter of apology to the Premier.

He said Mr. Burgess had been setting up television equipment in the Premier's Cabinet Building office when some papers were knocked off a window sill.

"Steve picked it up and asked the Premier a question about it, and the Premier told him it was personal,'' Mr. Fletcher said. The document was clearly not newsworthy and did not lead to a story.

The Premier did not make any formal complaint to the television station, Mr.

Fletcher said, but mentioned it to him a few days later. Mr. Fletcher described the reporter as "a very good employee'' but told him "that this wasn't the way we do business.

"He was severely reprimanded and asked to write a letter to the Premier -- which he did.''