Talks between the US and Bermuda Government about having a US Coast Guard presence on the Island continued last weekend.

Premier Ewart Brown and the Minister of Public Safety David Burch met Chairman Bennie Thompson of the United States House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee over the weekend to discuss the issue.

The Premier said the issue was still under consideration.

"I'm pleased where things stand," he added.

"We think this partnership is very important for Bermuda so we're happy Chairman Thompson is willing to help us move things forward.

"A Coast Guard presence for Bermuda will go a long way toward improving public safety — we'll be more responsive to water borne search and rescue, and perhaps more importantly, we'll be able to better protect Bermuda's neighbourhoods from the importation of guns and illegal drugs."

And Sen. Burch said: "It was a very encouraging meeting. Chairman Thompson is very supportive of this idea.

"We're constantly looking for ways to stop crime at the prevention level as opposed to the intervention level.

"A Coast Guard partnership would be a major step forward in our prevention efforts."

They met while the Bermudian politicians were attending the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

It was the second time Government has met with Chairman Thompson to discuss the issue. The first meeting took place in Bermuda at Camden during a roundtable discussion over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Congressman Thompson has Congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.

The United States Coast Guard falls under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security.