Transport Minister Ewart Brown said last night the United States Consulate General will have to come to him to get an explanation about his alleged breach of security at the Airport.

The Consulate General issued a strongly worded press statement on Thursday accusing Dr. Brown of a “gross violation” of aviation security when it said he did not go through mandatory security screening procedures.

The statement warned that pre-clearance in Bermuda for flights to the US was dependent on the Airport understanding its responsibilities.

The statement said the Consulate General “looks forward to Dr. Brown's clarifying his intentions in this matter, which we take with the utmost concern”.

When asked yesterday if he had approached or would be approaching the Consulate, Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette: “Absolutely not.

“I do not respond to press statements. I want to see a face come from behind the letterhead.

“As soon as I know who I am talking with, I would be happy to have a meaningful conversation but it would be inappropriate for me to respond to a press statement as a Minister of Government.”

Dr. Brown, who strongly denies any breach of security, added: “They can come to the Government, not through the media.”

When asked what he would say about the incident, Dr. Brown said: “We'll see. I will tell them the truth. I never violated (security) or refused anything.”

Giving his version of what happened before he boarded the flight to Washington on Wednesday, Dr. Brown said he had been screened and had passed through the ticket desk at the departure lounge when a security officer from Bermuda Security Group - not Customs as The Royal Gazette reported - asked to search him.

“I walked through with (Airport General Manager) Jim Howes and I was about five or six feet past the table when (the guard) said ‘Dr. Brown I would like to check you'. I said ‘Fine'.

“I had my bag up and he was going through my bag and I said ‘Is this a random search?'. He said it was and I said ‘Can I speak to your supervisor?'

“He ignored me and I said ‘May I speak to your supervisor?' and he dropped the wand and said ‘go ahead' and pointed to the gate.”

It was during the time Dr. Brown asked if it was a random search that he said the security guard asked him to sit down and take his shoes off.

He said he and Mr. Howes waited for some minutes and they did not know where the security officer had gone or if he was coming back.

“I had never seen a security officer drop his wand and walk off his post. Jim said ‘Minister you are going to miss your flight' and he said go through.”

In the House of Assembly on Friday night, United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons urged Dr. Brown not to allow his “ego” to jeopardise pre-clearance to the US for everyone in Bermuda.

He called on Dr. Brown to explain to the US Consulate that he understood how important the security procedures were and to reassure them that he understood that the rules applied to him as well.

“I would like to say to Dr. Brown, and I think for a lot of other people in general - please don't jeopardise what your fellow citizens enjoy because you don't want to take your shoes off,” Dr. Gibbons told MPs.

“Park your ego for Bermuda's tourists and reassure the US government that you not only understand security for the airport but that you feel it is important for you to personally adhere to that. Anything less would not be putting Bermuda first.”

When asked yesterday to respond to Dr. Gibbons' comments, Dr. Brown said: “That's political posturing of the worst type, pandering to whoever he thinks he needs to pander to.”