Bermuda's diplomatic efforts are getting a helping hand from two Bermuda-based insurance executives.

David Bell and Robin Hamill have informally been paving the way for Government to meet with influential American contacts they have with those efforts resulting in at least two meetings between Premier Alex Scott and a leading political commentator last month and economist this week.

Mr. Bell and Mr. Hamill may be a good match when it comes to this sort of thing, as one has a wealth of contacts on Capitol Hill and the other on Wall Street.

Although the two come from different backgrounds, they told The Royal Gazette, they shared the common goal of trying to increase positive dialogue between the two countries. They both stressed that there efforts were made in a personal capacity and were not part of their positions with Mr. Bell and Mr. Hamill working for Allied World Assurance Company Ltd. and Merrill Lynch, respectively.

Mr. Bell, an American, has been working on the Island for the last two years after working for US-based insurer Chubb, where he juggled a position on the insurance side as well as being the Governmental Affairs representative for the company in Florida.

On the flip side, Mr. Hamill is a dual national of Bermuda and the US, who has been involved in the Island's international companies business for 15 years.

Both said that they had an interest in helping Bermuda whatever way they could in building a strong relationship with the US, but conceded that anti-Bermuda rhetoric being used on the campaign trail by Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry increased the need for diplomatic efforts. Mr. Hamill said: "We should not take it lightly that Bermuda is being used by one of the US presidential candidates. We are becoming the poster child of an issue that really is not an issue to do with Bermuda. We are being painted with a broad brush on a topic that is outside of Bermuda. But because of the size and scope of the US, and the influence that candidate has ? whether or not he is elected or not ? some of that message could resonate with policy makers in Washington. So I think it is appropriate that we spend an increased amount of time and energy reinforcing a different image and that is an image of a solid platform that has added tremendous value to our client, the United States, and to the world as a trading partner. We should be talking more about the good we have done and push back on some of the negative that is being thrown around in Washington."

The premature departure of US Consul General Denis Coleman has also meant that the Island's diplomatic channel there has been temporarily shut down with the expectation that a new appointment would not be made until next year.

Mr. Bell said: "With the presidential election in November, it is not an opportune time to have no sitting Consul General as he is typically the diplomatic conduit between the two countries. I don't think this is an emergency by any stretch of the imagination but this is a time to be proactive to help to reinforce what Bermuda brings to the table and to help ensure that after November comes and goes, regardless of who is elected as president, that the lawmakers are left with the correct perception of Bermuda."

Although many have said that Sen. Kerry, were he to be elected, might not follow through on promises of clamping down on companies that come here, Mr. Bell, a "self-declared card-carrying Republican" said Sen. Kerry's influence should not be taken lightly.

"Although the Democrats do not control the Senate, there are some very hotly contested seats. Whether the balance shifts in November or not, Kerry does have influence within Washington there is no question about it. That said, even the least politically savvy constituents in the United States understand that election rhetoric is often just that.

"But when these statements are made about Bermuda and Benedict Arnold CEOs in the incorrect context that Kerry has often made it, over and over again, there is always the danger that that perception will stick. Particularly for those who are not familiar with the reality of what Bermuda brings to the table. There is the danger that that incorrect perception will resonate after November. So that is what we are looking to help counteract by keeping diplomatic channels open and helping people on both sides of the ocean (in Bermuda and in the US) understand the reality of what Bermuda brings."

Mr. Hamill added: "It is always easier to combat this stuff if you have a pre-existing platform and relationship in places like Washington D.C. rather than react to it.

"David and I have a common interest in fostering relationships with contacts we may have in Washington; to try and help counteract some of the rhetoric that is going around about Bermuda," he said.

The two are perfectly placed to set up meetings with those both in Washington and from America's financial seat, Wall Street.

Mr. Bell, who allowed that it was "very likely" that he would himself run for political office in the US, said he has wide contacts in American political circles.

"I have lived in Washington and worked for the Senate through then US Senator Connie Mack, a senior ranking Republican Senator (Florida), now retired. I have also worked within various levels of the Jeb Bush campaign for Governor of Florida and with the Bush administration post election.

When I worked for Chubb, When I worked for Chubb prior to coming to AWAC, I was in addition to another role, the Governmental Affairs representative for Florida working with the Governor's administration and with Congress. So, I have worked with various levels of Florida politics.

Mr. Bell said he also had other non-Florida related political contacts including Ambassador John Negroponte, who was formerly Ambassador to the Philippines, and more recently, Ambassador to the United Nations."

A trip to Bermuda was however called off after being called to go to Iraq.

"Ambassador Negroponte has just been confirmed by the Senate to be the first United States Ambassador to Iraq. Robin and I were looking to bring him to Bermuda, he has not been here since 1958 and he was looking forward to having a reunion at the Mid-Ocean Golf Club as he had fond memories of that, but now obviously, effecting democracy in the Middle East may be more pressing than a round of golf," Mr. Bell said.

Mr. Bell also has ties to Sen. Max Baucus who is close with his wife's family, and said he also has contacts with the Senator's staff.

He said that the Senator had been noted previously for his "less than positive comments about Bermuda"

Sen. Baucus was one of the legislators to meet with the Premier and Minister Cox during their last trip to Washington.

Mr. Hamill said: "My contacts are a little different than David's. I do not have that many contacts in Washington D.C. with most of my contacts coming from the other capital of the United States ? Wall Street.

"That capital tends to be a leading indicator of politics. Because we live in a free market environment, the capital that has been put to use in the Island's re/insurance industry has primarily come from the US. I have a lot of contacts with Wall Street people who ultimately make the decision on whether to do business in Bermuda or take that business elsewhere," he said.

Mr. Hamill said through his career he had travelled widely on business, and had always tried to be a representative for the Island.

"My interest has been to sell the Bermuda platform. And to show that Bermuda is stable and is a place where smart capital comes to execute smart decisions in a global environment.

"I have had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of influential executives across the insurance and banking industries. Really what David and I are doing is offering Bermuda the opportunity to take advantage of some of those relationships, and to increase the relationship (between Bermuda and the US)."

Although both Mr. Bell and Mr. Hamill are speaking out publicly on their efforts, they said they were certain similar efforts were also being made by others and would welcome others to join their effort. "I cannot comment on what private companies do as far as lobbying the Government here or in Washington. But I think it is fair to say that there are a number of like minded people who want nothing more than Bermuda to be correctly characterised as a stable environment to conduct worldwide business from," Mr. Hamill said.

Mr. Bell added: "The more people that are looking to effect the same goal, to forge this positive relationship, whether individually or collectively, the better. It is always best if there is a pooling of resources, but some may be managing their own process individually."

Mr. Coleman was also said to have been included in some of Mr. Bell and Mr. Hamill's conversations, before he left the Island. Mr. Hamill concluded: "Bermuda has an extraordinary amount to be proud of, when you look at what we have been able to do. And we should be proud of those accomplishments and not be afraid of talking about it and to make it better. I am passionate about that. Better does not imply that there is not already a good job being done, but it is about growing and continuing to challenge ourselves to constantly do better. We are really growing something that has already taken a generation or two to establish."