The Premier's press secretary has claimed that Opposition leader Kim Swan placed himself in a "very precarious position" with his comments on the UK's crackdown in Turks and Caicos.

Premier Ewart Brown said earlier this week that Britain's threat to temporarily suspend the government of the Caribbean country following a corruption probe which found "clear signs of political amorality and immaturity", was over the top.

Mr. Swan disagreed, arguing that the reaction had to be seen in the context of an inquiry which found "a high probability of systemic corruption or serious dishonesty".

The Premier's spokesman Glenn Jones said Mr. Swan's remarks put him out of step with his own party's elder statesman Quinton Edness as well as the Caribbean Community Secretariat (Caricom), which has opposed the UK's proposed actions.

"In the Opposition leader's trigger-happy approach to consistently disagree with the Premier, Kim Swan finds himself in a very precarious position," said Mr. Jones.

He added: "Everyone seems to agree some kind of probe was necessary in Turks and Caicos. But the course chosen doesn't sit well with the Premier, Mr. Edness, or the 20 countries of Caricom.

"The Opposition Leader is currently without company. The Premier, Mr. Edness and Caricom have seemed to come down on the side of democracy. Where does that leave the Opposition Leader?"

He said he had a policy question for Mr. Swan: "If you were Premier would you revoke Bermuda's associate membership in Caricom? Your rhetoric of late certainly seems to suggest you march to the beat of a drum not made in the Caribbean."

A UBP spokesman said last night that Mr. Swan's statement included no comment on the UK Government's "actual handling" of the Turks and Caicos crisis.

"We agreed the UK intervention was unusual but understandable given the 'high probability of systemic corruption' that its investigators found.

"We noted that the intervention was undertaken to ensure the protection of good governance in that territory and concluded that if that was the result 'then the intervention will prove to be a good thing'."

He said Mr. Swan's comments were aimed at pointing out the need for the Premier to bring a sharp focus to affairs at home, including the handling of major projects such as the new Police and court building in Hamilton, claims of overbilling by a Tourism Ministry contractor and the missing money from the faith-based tourism initiative.

"Bermuda, if it is to succeed in the best way possible, must be firmly anchored to the principles of good governance — transparency, responsiveness and accountability," he said. "That is where our focus should be and that was the focus of our statement yesterday."

The Governor of Turks and Caicos said on Tuesday that the Commission of Inquiry into the crisis would now deliver its final report to him by May 31, after he granted a month-long extension.