It's all a "storm in a teacup" Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb said yesterday about concerns over the altering of House of Assembly tapes two years ago.

"It is not politically embarrassing for the Government. It might be politically embarrassing for any of us if our private conversation happens to be heard by someone. It wasn't broadcast over the radio... and that's it - a storm in a teacup."

She said she was constantly "amazed" that something so "minor" would take centre-stage in Bermuda.

"It never ceases to amaze me. Members of Parliament have private conversations. It's unfortunate if your mic is on and it gets picked up and it's even more unfortunate if it happens to be broadcast on the radio. In this case that was not the case. It's unfortunate that somebody is making hay two years later... But there's nothing sinister going on, nor was there ever anything sinister going on."

In February 2001, a conversation between two ruling party MPs about a Valentine's night sexual escapade ended up being recorded by the Department of Telecommunications which is responsible for taping House of Assembly proceedings.

The conversation was edited out, as per Department procedure, because it occurred prior to the start of the day's sitting.

This week, an anonymous letter was sent to the Public Service Commission accusing Telecommunications Director Greg Swan of possible "unlawful conduct". The letter writer said that Mr. Swan had agreed to alter the tape at the request of two senior representatives of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) who had a meeting with him the day after.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) has requested a copy of the altered tape and says that the incident highlights the need to clarify procedures to protect public records of the House from being tampered with.

The UBP also questioned why the meeting took place. Former PLP PR officer Corey Butterfield has acknowledged meeting with Mr. Swan and an MP to listen to the tape but said that no request was made for the tape to be edited.

Yesterday he told this newspaper that he had been asked to assess the situation with a view to conducting damage control.

But, he said, that was found to be unnecessary since the conversation was not broadcast on the air.

Ms Webb said that she herself had informed the department that the conversation was heard, in her Department offices as it was being recorded, and that the people affected wanted to hear it themselves. "I stated that it wasn't on the official tape and it wasn't on the broadcast... I assured them at the very outset that it gets edited anyway. And the conversation itself was not of any national crisis or political embarrassment to the Government. If two men are talking about what they did the night before... I mean we are adults."

Ms Webb said that it's difficult for MPs to know if their mics are switched on. "People just have to be careful."

She couldn't say who she thought had sent in the anonymous letter but suggested that the fact that it is an election year probably had something to do with the timing of its release. Only five people knew of the tape, she added. And she pointed out that the Cabinet was not even made aware of the potentially embarrassing information.

Asked how the meeting with Mr. Swan came about, Mr. Butterfield said: "I received a call and was told to attend." He reported his findings to the Premier, he said.

Mr. Butterfield, the general manager of Hardell Entertainment Limited, a local company which has had several high profile conflicts with the Government, categorically denied having anything to do with the anonymous letter.

"If it was me, it would not be anonymous," he said. "And the Government and the Cabinet would feel me coming. There would be no guesswork - they would know."