Premier Alex Scott this week asked for Airport privileges normally reserved for the Governor and visiting dignitaries.

Mr. Scott made the request at his weekly meeting with the Governor on Monday.

Government House was reluctant to divulge specific circumstances of the request, saying the weekly meeting was meant to be private.

But Deputy Governor Nick Carter did confirm Mr. Scott's request, after it had been revealed by broadcast news reports that the Premier's official car met him on the airport runway when he returned from his trip abroad.

Airport officials were taken aback when, contrary to established protocol, the Premier's official car showed up on the runway to pick him up on Saturday night.

Mr. Scott told ZBM television that it had been his driver's mistake but he had brought the matter up with the Governor and he had agreed to his request.

But Mr. Carter said that the Governor had only promised to look into it.

"I can tell you he raised it with the Governor and the Governor said he will look into it," Mr. Carter said. "At the moment I think only the Governor and visiting dignitaries can take advantage of this facility. They can have a car meet them."

He could not say if the dignitaries then bypassed Customs and Immigration altogether.

By his own account to ZBM television Mr. Scott had been challenged by Immigration officers when the faux pas occurred.

Neither Mr. Scott nor airport officials returned calls seeking clarification by press-time last night.