A closed Portuguese consulate in Bermuda meant a community leader had to assist Police in tracing the family of missing sailor Luiz Santos.

As reported yesterday, Mr. Santos fell from the 42-foot sailboat in rough seas on December 29 when the vessel was 350 miles off Bermuda, en route from Antigua.

The 36-year-old from Lisbon, Portugal, is presumed dead although his body has not been recovered.

He is not believed to have any links with the large Portuguese community in Bermuda.

However, because the national consulate is closed, community leader Eddie DeMello stepped in to help trace his family. ?I have been dealing with the situation because the consulate has been closed for six weeks,? said Mr. DeMello explaining that Portugal plans to close 17 consulates throughout the world including Bermuda.

The absence of a consul in the Island has provoked anger in Bermuda?s Portuguese community in recent weeks and caused problems for those needing to sort out travel documents over the festive period, he said.

However, after Mr. DeMello repeatedly faxed and emailed the Portuguese Government to complain, he received a phone call yesterday to tell him the consulate would be operational again on Monday.

Jose Pereira, who has acted as Vice Consul in Bermuda in the past, is said to be heading back to the Island to facilitate this.

?Other members of the community have been complaining too. For some reason, people seem to think I am the consul and people have been to me saying they need a visa or their passport renewed,? said Mr. DeMello, who pointed them to consulates in New York and Boston.

?It?s been really inconvenient. Nobody knew what was going on.?

The problem meant he offered assistance to the Police as they worked to trace Mr. Santos?s family. The fact that inquiries into the tragedy are ongoing meant Mr. DeMello ? who runs the Music Box shop in Hamilton ? was reluctant to talk in detail about his role. However, he revealed that he has spoken to Mr. Santos?s mother.

?She?s very upset over the whole incident. The family is very shocked over the situation,? he said.

Mr. DeMello understands Mr. Santos and Spanish boat skipper Alvaro Conbe started their voyage in Grenada before sailing to Antigua and onward to Bermuda. They were thought to be heading on to Spain via the Azores.

Mr. Conbe threw a flotation device to crew member Mr. Santos after he fell into the rough seas while trying to fix a sail. However, his rescue attempt was unsuccessful and an air and sea search involving the US Coastguard and three merchant ships was launched. This was called off after two days when no trace of the missing man was found.

Mr. Conbe continued his onward journey to Bermuda alone, arriving on New Year?s Day. He was recovering from his ordeal in St. George?s yesterday.

Petty Officer Larry Chambers of the US Coastguard, Portsmouth, Virginia, confirmed there are no plans to resume the search for Mr. Santos unless further information comes to light.