Premier Alex Scott jets off to Washington, DC today ? and a possible meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not been crossed off the agenda.

The two-day trip to Capitol Hill will see a Government delegation meet a host of senior American politicians during a series of diplomatic meetings.

Influential names already confirmed for the whistle-stop tour to the heart of the US establishment include House of Representatives speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate leader Bill Frist and Senator John McCain.

But the prospect of talks with one of the biggest heavyweights in the Bush administration was raised yesterday, when Mr. Scott said he had heard US Consul General Gregory Slayton say on a radio show that a meeting with Dr. Rice was a possibility.

Mr. Scott yesterday said he would be honoured to meet Dr. Rice.

Asked about the prospect of the Bermuda team securing time with one of the world?s most powerful women, Mr. Slayton told : ?I had the honour of meeting with Dr. Rice last week.

?I know she?s very interested in Bermuda and hopes to have time to meet with the delegation.?

The US trip has been hailed the first official bilateral visit of Bermuda Government officials to Washington, DC. Joining the Premier will be Finance Minister Paula Cox and Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton.

Trade, tourism, international tax laws and the war on drugs are topics likely to feature in 20 individual meetings on the two-day itinerary.