Government House has reminded Premier Alex Scott that Governors will continue to have a "key role" in judicial appointments.

The day after the Premier accused Britain of reverting to a "colonial model which we thought had been relegated to history" when Sir John Vereker set up a judicial appointments panel rather than merely consult Mr. Scott over the new Chief Justice, Government House released a statement reaffirming the British position.

On Tuesday, Mr. Scott said in "this day and age" decisions like judicial appointments should be made in Bermuda not London, and he said he could understand why some people were talking about independence.

The row erupted after Sir John accepted the recommendation of appointments panel that Englishman Richard Ground be appointed rather than Mr. Scott's preferred candidate Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller. On Christmas Eve, Government House released the text of a statement made by Overseas Territories Minister Bill Rammell to the House of Commons on December 18 following the three day Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting in London at the beginning of the month.

Mr. Rammell told MPs: "Several overseas territories representatives argued, in the context of constitutional reviews currently underway, for a greater devolution of responsibility and reduction in the powers of governors, in some cases amounting to full internal self-government and total abolition of the UK Government's reserved powers.

"Territory representatives also sought clarification of their rights of self-determination and free association under the terms of UN General Assembly resolution 1541 of 1960.

"I and (Foreign Secretary) Jack Straw emphasised that the security and good governance of overseas territories remains a key foreign policy objective of the UK government as indicated in the White Paper "UK International Priorities: A Strategy for the FCO" published on December 2. "Territories have the right to seek independence where this is an option but whilst the link with the United Kingdom remains, the UK Government will have to retain sufficient powers to protect its overall responsibility for ensuring good governance and compliance with international obligations and to minimise its contingent liabilities arising from its relationship with the territories.

"The UK Government consider it important to protect key values, particularly the independence of the judiciary, the political impartiality and integrity of the public service, and sound financial management in the territories.

"Governors have a key role to play in this."