Masefield to make a public statement on an alleged sex and drugs probe centred on Environment Minister Irving Pearman.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said: "This situation requires the Governor or Deputy Governor to put the truth of the matter.'' Mr. Scott was speaking after Acting Premier Jerome Dill denied claims by Mr.

Pearman that the Governor asked Premier Pamela Gordon to get rid of her Environment Minister.

Mr. Pearman said the allegations against him were totally without foundation and part of a dirty tricks campaign to smear his name.

Mr. Scott, who shares the Warwick East constituency with Mr. Pearman, said: "It's an unfortunate, and some would reason tragic, set of circumstances because I don't know -- like the public doesn't know -- the background.

"But it's so easy to rob an individual of their good name. That's why there are safeguards in the law and remedies in the courts.'' He added that no Parliamentarian should be "seen to be above the law'' -- but insisted that those in the public eye should not be singled out, either.

Mr. Scott said: "There should not be a cavalier attitude taken because the individual is in the public eye and they knew the job was dangerous when they took it.'' The controversy started after Mr. Pearman, 70, was put in the frame during Operation Cleansweep.

Mr. Pearman said Police Commissioner Colin Coxall had confirmed the Minister had been put under surveillance after two men netted in Cleansweep were found to have cashed cheques written by the Minister. One claimed that he had bought drugs for Mr. Pearman.

PLP seeks answers on Pearman The row took a fresh twist when Mr. Pearman confirmed that allegations about his private life had also surfaced -- allegations he hotly denied.

Mr. Pearman later went public, claiming he had been told the Governor had advised the Premier to get rid of him and that there was a conspiracy to damage his reputation.

Acting Premier Jerome Dill later denied that the Governor had asked for Mr.

Pearman to be axed.

Mr. Dill also said: "Mr. Pearman has not been under investigation, is not under investigation and the matter is now closed.'' He added: "Mr. Pearman says certain allegations were made to the Police but it was judged that there was no evidence to support them.'' But Mr. Scott said: "Mr. Dill is either suggesting Mr. Pearman has been misled or he is lying when he says the Premier was approached by Government House. "I don't know which one is speaking the truth -- Mr. Dill is not authorised to speak for the Governor. It would be for the Governor or the Deputy Governor to now confirm or deny what Mr. Dill has said.

"They can no longer remain silent because we have two Ministers arguing from directly opposite positions.'' POLITICS PTL