The new Bermuda offices in the US and UK will not only help the Country in terms of international standing but will assist Bermudians themselves, according to Senator David Burch.

The Government Senate Leader said the London office had already helped schoolchildren from CedarBridge Academy on an overseas trip to France and Spain.

And he said the Washington DC office would prove its "weight in gold" when it came to influencing the US Government on issues such as the insurance industry and 'tax havens'.

Sen. Burch, Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, said: "I think with the threat that is constantly on us, pointing towards us from both these countries, it is vitally important to have a presence in London and Washington.

"Not only for high level stuff, but the basic level stuff they do for Bermudians."

He said the CedarBridge party faced a problem in not having visas to travel to France and Spain on their school trip.

"They thought I could get an ambassador to issue them visas, so by the time it got to me they didn't have visas," he said.

"But the manager of the London office intervened and was able to secure, as a result of her own contacts and relationship with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visas for them to be able to travel to Spain and France."

The Minister added: "I now have another group of sailors going to France who of course, need visas, so I'm going to look again to the London office to assist us."

Sen. Burch said: "Every single one of our competitors, such as Cayman, have had a representative in the UK and probably in Washington for years.

"It's the same as the point I was making about travel (expenses). It's the same principle on which international business is founded face-to-face contact. You have more success with personal contact.

"I think as we go forward particularly the Washington office will be worth its weight in gold in terms of being able to influence the US Government."