A spokesman for Governor Thorold Masefield yesterday hammered home the message that the Governor had not advised that Government Minister Irving Pearman should go over a claimed Police probe into sex and drugs allegations.

And Deputy Governor Peter Willis said: "Mr. Pearman has not been under investigation and is not under investigation -- and there is no conspiracy.'' The controversy broke 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 under Cleansweep were found to have cashed cheques written by Mr. Pearman. One of the men is claimed to have said he had bought drugs for Mr. Pearman.

Mr. Pearman said he had hired two men -- suspected of being drug dealers -- in a bid to help get them back on track and the cheques were payment for work around his home.

The row took a fresh twist when Mr. Pearman said that allegations about his private life had also surfaced -- allegations he hotly denied.

And Mr. Pearman said the allegations were part of a dirty tricks campaign to smear his name.

And he speculated it was because he was committed to Mr. Coxall leaving the Island after his contract is up -- next March, not September as has been reported.

Mr. Willis was speaking after Acting Premier Jerome Dill relayed to the media the results of a meeting with the Governor on Friday.

The Deputy Governor said: "To confirm what the Acting Premier said, the matter is now closed.'' Mr. Willis added that media reports attributing remarks to the Governor concerning Environment Minister Mr. Pearman's future in the Cabinet were without foundation.

The Deputy Governor spoke after Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott called on the Governor to make a statement on the row -- rather than leaving it to Mr. Dill.

Governor has not advised Pearman to go And he said that two Ministers appearing to contradict each other made a Government House statement confirming or denying Mr. Dill's statement necessary.

But Mr. Dill last night stressed that he was not at odds with Mr. Pearman and had only been reporting the content of the meeting with the Governor -- not expressing his opinion.

Mr. Willis said, however: "The Governor knew that the Acting Premier was likely to be asked by the media shortly after his meeting.

"It would seem sensible for the Acting Premier to convey the subject of the discussions he had had.

"I have clarified the situation, if it needed to be clarified and confirmed Mr. Dill's statement -- if it needed to be confirmed.'' And Mr. Willis declined to speculate on the motivation behind Mr. Pearman's claims.

Mr. Willis said: "I don't know what he has said, I don't know how accurate what he is reported to have said is. I can't speak to what he may or may not have said.'' And he did not take issue with claims that the Governor had no power to ask for the removal of a Government Minister.

Mr. Pearman was yesterday off the Island and unavailable for comment.