There are differing accounts of how the controversial relocation of the Uighurs was agreed between the US and Bermuda.

In one response Immigration Minister David Burch said the idea came from Bermuda's lobbyist firm in the US, while the Premier has previously stated he read about the Uighur problem in a US newspaper and brought it up during meetings in the White House as part of the Government's annual round of talks in Capital Hill in May.

When interviewed for this newspaper earlier this month, he said the chain of events started with a meeting with Michael Strautmanis, the Chief of Staff to Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett.

"All that week Obama had been to Congress and had been turned down with respect to funding for the Guantánamo detainees. "And so it was something that was on top of most people's minds in DC. Subsequently the issue was raised about the Uighurs and I said 'I wonder if Bermuda could be of any help?'" said Dr. Brown.

He left the White House after the meeting with Mr. Strautmanis and later that day, while playing golf, he got a call asking him to return.

That was to be the start of formal talks that brought the four Uighurs to the Island on a 3 a.m. private flight on June 11.

The secrecy of the move and the way it was agreed created a storm.

High-level telephone calls were made between the UK and the US to find out why it had been allowed without the UK, which has responsibility for Bermuda's security and overseas' relations, being informed.

In the hours immediately before the Uighurs relocated to Bermuda, China had repeated demands for the return of Chinese detainees from Guantánamo. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said America should "stop handing over terrorist suspects to any third country".

Reflecting on what came next, Dr. Brown said: "I had no idea that it would trigger the kind of response that it did. I thought it would be universally accepted as a decent humanitarian act."

There were three mass protests outside Parliament in the wake of the Uighurs' arrival not against the plight of the Uighurs, but against the apparent abuse of process. Dr. Brown believes his decision will grow in popularity over time when things are put in perspective.

The relocation of the Uighurs is presently being investigated by the UK and has sparked a review of the General Entrustment agreement, which allows Bermuda to negotiate with overseas countries on Britain's behalf in certain situations.

The matter has been raised in the House of Lords, in London. Lord Malloch-Brown, a Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the Bermuda Government did not have the delegated authority to do what it did.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has also been involved in the controversy, as has the UK's Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The Premier said he wished the US had not requested confidentiality in the relocation process. While the Americans had not said specifically who should not be told, Dr. Brown took the confidentiality to mean only communicate with the people who needed to know in order to execute the relocation.

On the issue of whether Bermuda's Constitution was breached, the Premier said he and the Governor Sir Richard Gozney had "agreed to disagree."

Dr. Brown has stated he has been given advice indicating that he was within his rights as it was an immigration matter, however the Governor and Foreign and Commonwealth Office say it falls within foreign affairs.

Dr. Brown has yet to speak with Mr. Miliband, but said he intends to meet him when he visits England in September, adding: "I look forward to speaking to him directly. I would like to have an opportunity to personally explain Bermuda's position."

On the plus side, both President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have publicly praised Bermuda for accepting the Uighurs. The Premier said: "I believe that there are pluses all the way around. I believe that our relationship with the United States will be stronger as a result of our having reached out and helped.

"I believe that with the UK, if the relationship isn't strengthened at least it will be clear and as to how the UK interprets matters like this.

"And with respect to China I haven't heard any negative feedback. Chinese businesspeople are still coming here and tourists as well. And I found out there are over 300 Chinese business investors in Bermuda."