Governor Sir John Vereker has spoken of his efforts to provide “a steady heartbeat” for Bermuda’s constitution “unperturbed by short-term politics,” in the interests of stability.

His remarks appeared to be a reference to a row over leaked documents alleging corruption within the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) which prompted Premier Ewart Brown to threaten to suspend dealings with Government House.

In a speech on Saturday marking the Queen’s birthday, Sir John said it was quite proper for him to possess “only limited direct powers” and stressed the need to ensure “scope for responsibility to be carried locally”.

Pro-Independence Dr. Brown — who was absent from the celebrations yesterday and Saturday — has accused Sir John of not doing enough to secure a Police file detailing alleged corruption at BHC.

Dr. Brown made a TV broadcast on June 1 threatening to “suspend further relations” with Sir John unless he got to the bottom of the leak. His words prompted speculation that Bermuda was heading toward a constitutional crisis.

Tensions escalated last week when Minister of Public Safety David Burch revealed he had asked Sir John to relinquish his constitutional powers over the Police and delegate them to Government.

The news made headlines around the world, and led the Foreign Office in London to issue a joint statement from Sir John and Dr. Brown saying Scotland Yard was being brought in to investigate the leak and the Premier had assured Sir John his Government would continue to work with him.

In his speech to dignitaries at Government House on Saturday night, Sir John, who steps down in October to be replaced by Sir Richard Gozney, reflected warmly on the Island he will leave behind after five years, and thanked its residents for making him and Lady Vereker feel welcome and useful.

He also warned that the environment, social relationships and political life will need “constant nurture” in order to survive what he described as “the challenges of the twenty first century”.

Turning to the balance between Government House and the powers devolved to Government, Sir John said: “Perhaps there is more that I should have done. But for a Governor, doing more risks the charge of doing too much, of not leaving enough scope for responsibility to be carried locally. That is a difficult balance, but there is no shirking the responsibility for striking that balance.”

He added: “Yes, we Governors have, quite properly, only limited direct powers. There is only so much a Governor, any Governor, can do to contribute to the nurture of the Island. I have tried to do it by providing a steady heartbeat for the Constitution, a heartbeat unperturbed by short-term politics, a heartbeat that provides an assurance of stability and integrity in an uncertain world. That is what I have stood for; and that is what I intend to continue to stand for as long as we remain here.”

Dr. Brown was present at neither the Government House party nor the annual ceremony on Front Street yesterday marking the Queen’s birthday.

His Press Secretary Glenn Jones said the Premier was off the Island due to “urgent personal business”. Mr. Jones declined to give further details, but said Dr. Brown was due back for today’s meeting of Cabinet.

His absence saw Paula Cox step in as Acting Premier for the formalities which saw Sir John inspect the Bermuda Regiment in his capacity as the Queen’s representative in Bermuda.

The Regiment, along with its Band and Corps of Drums, representatives of the Police and Fire Services and the Bermuda Cadet and Sea Corps participated in a parade that featured a 21-gun salute in honour of Her Majesty. The pomp and ceremony attracted a large crowd of Bermudians and visitors alike.

John Hebert of Panama City, Florida, said he thought the parade was “wonderful” and “very patriotic”. He added: “I took a whole roll of pictures. I enjoy the whole atmosphere of the Island — it’s so nice and pleasant and friendly.”

Gary Klein of Bonita Springs, Florida, said: “This is our second visit to the Queen’s Birthday Parade. It’s really great to see them all in uniform and the precision of the marching”.

Meanwhile Ed White, a Bermudian from Paget, paid his first visit to the event in many years so his granddaughter Rhea Gibbons, 13, could view the spectacle. “I’m impressed with the discipline of our young people. This is something a lot of people look forward to witnessing,” he said.