A bid by a Senator to reverse her vote on a controversial bill to allow funeral limousines in Bermuda has been rejected by Governor Thorold Masefield.

Independent Sen. Jeanette Cannonier spoke against the bill -- but mistakenly voted for it.

Her appeals to Senate President Alf Oughton were rejected -- and Sen.

Cannonier vowed to take it to the Governor.

Sen. Cannonier yesterday admitted she was unhappy at the decision -- but said she would have to accept it.

And she ruled out any further appeals or court action to have her vote changed.

Sen. Cannonier said: "I was disappointed -- but life goes on. Of course, I accept the ruling as far as I'm concerned. The Governor has responded and I've accepted it.'' But yesterday Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said Mr. Masefield had no grounds to reverse her ballot, which allowed the measure to pass by just one vote.

Mr. Gurney said: "She wrote to the Governor and the Governor considered it carefully.

"But the advice he got from the Attorney General's Chambers led him to conclude that he constitutionally had to sign the Act.

"He has explained to Sen. Cannonier that he considered her request -- but he was unable to do anything about it.'' Sen. Cannonier blundered during the last session of the Upper House in August.

She insisted that there was provision in the rules governing Senate to change her vote -- and said she would take it further when Sen. Oughton ruled the vote would have to stand.

Government Senate Leader Milton Scott -- reacting to two other bills where the Independents voted with the Opposition to block them for a year -- later caused controversy by calling for the three non-party Members to be sacked.

Governor rejects Senator's appeal He said they had been voting as a bloc with the United Bermuda Party -- a claim denied by the Independents.

The Independents voted to block for a year a law designed to allow middle managers to join the same union as the rank-and-file.

And they combined with the UBP to amend legislation aimed at raising the level where rent control kicks in by axing a bid to remove exemptions from rent control for houses built after mid-1983.

The controversial Motor Car Amendment (No. 2) Act, passed through Sen.

Cannonier's error, caused fury among taxi drivers when it passed the House of Assembly.

Cabbies staged a protest on the steps of the House -- and insisted it would cut into their business, and also be the thin end of the wedge for other organisations to provide their own limousine-type services.

It is understood only one funeral home -- D.H. Augustus and Sons -- petitioned Transport Minister Ewart Brown for a change in the law.

Members of the Augustus family are known to be supporters and financial backers of the ruling PLP.

And four Government MPs with links to the taxi industry -- taxi owner Elvin James, Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess, veteran MP Reginald Burrows and backbencher Dale Butler -- abstained from the vote.

GOVENOR GOV