The Hon. Maxwell Burgess yesterday tasted for himself the new high-speed way of travelling in Dockyard.

Cheered on by a 200-strong crowd, he took a giant leap into the unknown -- with his first bungee jump.

A week may be a long time in politics, but a few seconds was all it took for him to experience the highs and lows of life.

His daredevil antics also put a new twist on the phrase political whizz-kid.

The 40-year-old has certainly never covered 110 to 120 feet at such breakneck speed.

Was it really, though, the high point in Mr. Burgess's career? "I've always believed it takes a leap of faith to do anything, particularly in politics,'' he laughed afterwards.

"With so many people looking on there was no way I could pull out of it. I had to take the plunge.

"It was all over in a matter of seconds, and when I completed the jump there was a big cheer.'' According to the old saying, it is best to look before you leap.

But Mr. Burgess discovered yesterday that the maxim does not always hold true.

"I would say it's best not to look down when you're about to jump, unless you have a very good head for heights.'' For Mr. Burgess, however, the most frightening part of the experience occurred afterwards.

He was told how a bungee jumping instructor in Atlantic City came to grief when he forgot to harness himself.

"Fortunately, there was only water below me when I jumped.'' Mr. Burgess took the plunge while waiting for a ferry to take him to see how St. George's had prepared itself for the new cruise ship, Royal Majesty .

But would he try bungee jumping again? "I wouldn't guarantee that I would,'' he replied quickly.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro.

MAX-IMUM HEIGHT ADVANTAGE -- Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess proved himself a political whizz-kid with a difference during his first bungee jump.