A Rasta rookie in the Regiment will have to wait for a final decision on whether he will have to serve his time as a soldier, it was revealed yesterday.

For Governor Lord Waddington is still to receive a transcript of a hearing which ruled that Private Brian Harvey is a conscientious objector and deferred his army service pending a decision from the Queen's representative in Bermuda.

Deputy Governor Peter Willis said: "The papers haven't reached the Governor yet, but he will study them carefully when they arrive.

"He always gives these things his immediate attention.'' Private Harvey, who professes Rastafarianism, hit the headlines after he refused a to join the early-morning queue for a regulation haircut at Boot Camp earlier this month.

He was handcuffed and forced to sit on a chair in the Warwick Camp parade ground while his hair was clipped and spent the rest of the day in detention.

His case was referred to the Governor for a final decision on the private's future after the Defence Department's Exemptions Tribunal ruled he was a bona-fide conscientious objector.

The tribunal deferred Private Harvey's service -- which means he is exempt from Regiment duties, but still classed as a serving soldier.

The Governor has a choice of discharging Private Harvey or ordering that he serve his time in a non-combatative role in the Quartermaster's Section, which deals with administration and catering.

It is not known whether Private Harvey, who is represented by lawyer and human rights activist Rod Attride-Stirling, will press ahead with a civil case asking Supreme Court to rule on whether his detention after his forced haircut was legal.

GOVERNOR GOV