Premier Alex Scott said outspoken Minister David Burch gave his side of the story about recent headlines during a meeting this week.

Sen. Burch has been at the centre of a number of rows in recent weeks including criticising the selection process for the new Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment and announcing an 11th hour office move for the Auditor General.

The AG complained this left his department lacking a computer and telephone infrastructure.

The Minister for Works and Engineering and Housing also caused a stir by using the term ?house niggers? on his radio show before he was appointed. This later earned him a rebuke from the Broadcasting Commission.

Speaking about his meeting with Sen. Burch, Premier Alex Scott said yesterday: ?The discussion was most helpful because it enabled me to put into perspective much of what has been printed and said about the Minister?s much publicised comments.?

As reported last week, some observers cast doubt on evidence given to the Broadcasting Commission that Sen. Burch had apologised for using the ?house niggers? reference on his radio show.

However, Mr. Scott said: ?The Minister has informed me that he has apologised for yet a second time (Sunday last) on HOTT 107.5 for his earlier statement on that radio station.

He added that he was acutely aware of how the selection process in the Bermuda Regiment has gone in the past, and his public comments underscored his concern for the impact on the ?re-engagement? process on either officers or the men and women in the ranks of the Regiment if they believed the selection process had been less than fair. Despite these revelations, I pointed out that the substantive Minister, Randolph Horton, said on the floor of the House that he and the Government supported the new Commander, Lt. Col. William White.

Lastly, Minister Burch had both the authority and responsibility to initiate the move of the Auditor General?s Office when the Landlord?s Notice required that the tenant vacate the premises.

It is my understanding that the move is being adequately processed.?

The meeting came after Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert had called on the Premier to either publicly back or fire his Minister over his racial slur and other controversial words and actions.

And in a letter written by Mr. Furbert to the Premier on June 13 ? obtained yesterday by ? he said: ?I appeal to you to respond positively to my request for a ?clear-the-air? statement in which the policy and outlook of your Government in relation to such inflammatory remarks are made well known and become pellucid.?