GOVERNOR Sir John Vereker is refusing to comment on recently revealed allegations of corruption within Government.The allegations, revealed in this newspaper four weeks ago, were made during a two-year fraud squad investigation into the disappearance of millions of dollars at the publicly-funded Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Premier Ewart Brown, along with former Housing Minister Nelson Bascome and prospective Progressive Labour Party candidate Zane DeSilva, were at the centre of the police probe, although no charges have ever brought against any of the men.

Kulendra Ratneser, the island’s top prosecutor at the time, said that unethical behaviour involving elected officials had been unearthed but that there was little that could be deemed criminal under the law.

Sir John was kept fully briefed in the progress of the investigation and, once it wrapped up in August 2004, declared: “I hope that lessons are being learned in the appropriate places.”This week the Mid-Ocean News e-mailed Deputy Governor Mark Capes, asking if Sir John could expand on his comments. We asked what lessons and which places he was referring to specifically.

We also asked if he was referring to the behaviour of Government Ministers, including Ewart Brown and Nelson Bascome.

We also asked if Sir John believes that the full contents of the police investigations should be made available to the public, if he was satisfied the investigation reached a satisfactory conclusion, and what impact the events of the past four weeks have had on Bermuda’s international reputation.

In an e-mailed response, Mr. Capes replied: “I have to advise that the Governor is not available for comment.”