strengthen ties between Bermuda and the European country and meet members of the Portuguese community.

Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities and Member of Parliament Jose Lello flew in last Thursday to meet local dignitaries, including Governor Thorold Masefield and Premier Jennifer Smith, and also to oversee the upgrading of facilities at the new Portuguese Consulate.

Mr. Lello, whose job is to maintain contact with Portuguese communities all around the world, explained that this visit was one in a long line of stop-overs in countries including Canada, Australia, Macau and Venuzuela.

He said his Bermudian trip had included visits to the Portuguese Cultural Association, the Vasco da Gama Club and meeting with various other members of the community.

"But another purpose of my visit was to meet with Bermudian authorities,'' he said.

Mr. Lello described his meetings with Premier Smith and Governor Masefield as having gone "very well''.

He explained: "We talked about the economic situations in both countries and about how the Portuguese community was doing here in Bermuda.

"One thing I was really trying to do was strengthen ties between the places.'' Mr. Lello said this strengthening of ties would be helped by a recent upgrading of facilities and equipment at the new Portuguese Consulate, located in Hamilton, which he inaugurated in a ceremony on Saturday.

"We want to put across a good corporate image of the facilities,'' he said, "and this new technology will provide the community here with a direct link to Lisbon so they can get information when they need it.'' Adding that he was scheduled to meet with Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox yesterday and also to visit the National Gallery's exhibition "Window on the Azores'', Mr. Lello said: "Bermuda has a very dynamic and successful Portuguese community which is integrating itself into the economy very well.

"I would consider this visit a success in that it gave me a complete overview of all areas of administration in the consulate and in Bermuda.''