Government has knocked back a call by the Opposition for a special recall of Parliament in a row over a Government Minister caught up in a drugs-busting operation -- but the Progressive Labour Party may have another card up its sleeve.

For the party could mount a surprise move and make a submission to the Commission of Inquiry into the Bermuda Police drugs squad currently sitting at Hamilton's Cathedral Hall. Party Leader Jennifer Smith last night confirmed the party would be looking at other options after Speaker Ernest DeCouto ruled out a recall -- but declined to comment on avenues open to the party.

But she said: "This is not going to drag on -- this is something we would expect to have resolved sooner rather than later.'' She was speaking after receiving a faxed reply to a letter asking for a recall. The letter was delivered to the Speaker a week ago.

The demand for a recall came after Environment Minister Irving Pearman, 70, was drawn into the undercover anti-drugs swoop Operation Cleansweep. Mr.

Pearman was caught up in the anti-drugs action designed to target street drug dealers after two people arrested in the swoop were found to have cashed cheques written by Mr. Pearman.

The Minister later claimed he was told by Police Commissioner Colin Coxall that a man -- who was not identified -- was prepared to testify that the cheques were in payment for drugs. Mr. Pearman -- who has consistently denied any involvement in drugs -- maintained the cheques were in payment for work around his home.

He himself later revealed that there had also been allegations concerning his private life -- which he also denied.

The two-line letter from the Speaker said that the request had been considered -- but the rule allowing for an emergency session of Parliament during the summer "does not apply in this situation.'' Smith mum on next move A disappointed Ms Smith said: "It's the Speaker's prerogative -- obviously if I didn't feel this House needed to be recalled I would not have taken the time to write the letter to him.

"As to what we will do next, I will have to discuss it with the party and determine what, if any, action we will take next.'' But she added: "It will not be any action which would involve the House, but something which would satisfy the Bermuda public in terms of what I believe the public want.'' Other options open to the Opposition include calling for a public inquiry into the controversy -- or even setting up its own under a chairman seen to be impartial.

But the three-man Commission of Inquiry, under the chairmanship of Dominica-born Barbados resident Telford Georges, a former Bermuda Court of Appeal judge, started hearing evidence yesterday and could last up to two weeks.

The Commission -- which has asked for relevant submissions from the public -- was set up to examine "the policies, procedures and practices of the narcotics department of the Bermuda Police force'' with particular reference to the recent trial of then-alleged drugs baron Ellsworth Wilson.

Mr. Wilson was acquitted after Supreme Court judge Norma Wade ordered the jury to return formal not guilty verdicts on the charges against Mr. Ellsworth, ruling the continuity of evidence had not been maintained.

The case collapsed after whistle-blowing Det. Cons. Lendrea Davis, no longer on the force, claimed she had been pressured to change her written statements to match those of other officers involved in the investigation.

The Commission is obliged to stick to its terms of reference under the terms of the 1935 Act which allowed Governor Thorold Masefield to set it up.

But the terms laid down also include a general examination of the workings of the drugs squad, as well as empowering the Commissioners to make recommendations arising from the evidence presented to them.