Chief Justice Austin Ward and Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade were summoned to Government House to explain why a Pembroke man, charged with cultivating cannabis and possessing a semi-automatic pistol was released on bail.

Jody Derek Wilson, 42, of Band Room Lane, appeared before Senior Magistrate Will Francis last month on seven indictable charges involving alleged drug and firearms offences.

The alleged amount of drugs involved is in the region of seven or eight pounds worth $150,000.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charges at that time because they are indictable and have to be tried in the Supreme Court.

All the offences were alleged to have occurred at Wilson's residence on March 23 and include possession of cannabis with intent to supply; cultivating cannabis; possession of cannabis; being the occupant or person in charge of a premises and allowing the misuse of a controlled drug there; possession of drug equipment; possession of a Ruger P-80 semi-automatic pistol and possession of live Black Hills nine millimetre cartridges.

Despite objections from the Crown, Mr. Francis allowed Wilson to be released on bail of $8,000 with a like surety.

Wilson was ordered to surrender his travel documents, have no contact with any witnesses in the case and report to Hamilton Police Station on Mondays and Fridays. He will be back in court on April 23.

Meanwhile, The Royal Gazette has learned that Governor Lord Waddington was not pleased with Wilson's release on bail given the seriousness of the alleged offences which included a handgun and ammunition.

A conviction for a firearms offence carries a sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment.

Offenders can now receive a maximum of five years in prison or a $10,000 fine for possession of a firearm on a first offence.

In recent years handguns have become a hot topic in Bermuda with legislators promising stiffer laws and schemes to rid the Island of illegal weapons.

Crimestoppers, the Police and Customs joined forces to launch the `Illegal Firearm Recovery' scheme in 1994. The aim was to have members of the public give information on their neighbours who had illegal weapons.

And the Bermuda Police Service also held a firearms amnesty in 1994 which netted about 350 weapons.

It is understood that Lord Waddington's concerns surrounded these issues and that is why he summoned Mrs. Justice Wade to Government House on Thursday to account for the decision to release Wilson on bail.

And the Governor also had an audience with Mr. Justice Ward on Monday. Mr.

Justice Ward was away from the Island and Mrs. Justice Wade was acting in his stead last Thursday.

Government Information Services director Gavin Shorto refused to give any details of the discussions to The Royal Gazette when asked.

He said: "Yes, His Excellency has seen the Acting Chief Justice and the Chief Justice recently.

"We do not intend to go into any detail about what was said because the judiciary is within His Excellency's purview. They have discussions on quite a regular basis.'' GOVENOR GOV