Bermuda's discussion on Independence has “caught the eye and ear” of some of Britain's other colonies, according to Premier Alex Scott.

And Government is looking to standardise procedures for visiting dignitaries and Cabinet Ministers at Bermuda International Airport so they conform with practice in other countries.

Mr. Scott returned to the Island yesterday after visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands where he has been attending a convention marking the ruling Progressive National Party's first anniversary in power.

Accompanying the Premier and his wife Olga Scott were the Progressive Labour Party's secretary general Linda Merritt, the assistant secretary general for membership Sinclair Williams and party spokesman Scott Simmons.

Director of Communication and Information Beverle Lottimore was also a member of the delegation.

Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette that he had been invited as Premier of Bermuda and stressed that Government business was conducted during the visit.

He said he had invited executives of the PLP to join them in TCI so they could caucus with the PNP counterparts.

“To put it in proper perspective the Premier of Bermuda was asked to speak to the governing party in Turks and Caicos. I was invited by the Chief Minister to give a little background.

“The position I have taken in Bermuda on Independence has caught the eye and ear of the overseas territories and Turks and Caicos in particular.

“Because they are very keen on the stance I have taken and the Bermuda Government has taken, they wanted to hear it first hand.”

He added that the TCI government paid for him and his wife and he had given the keynote speech and attended a number of conference sessions.

“I, as Progressive Labour Party leader, have also invited party executives who went down at their own cost and joined us. So it was very beneficial from the party point of view. And we did a bit of Government business down there.”

Government business conducted included some progress on an ongoing review of how Cabinet Ministers and visiting dignitaries should be processed at the Airport, Mr. Scott said, with a view to standardising the procedures with other countries.

“Bermuda may have existed in splendid isolation - that is a Minister goes through the Airport at his or her own initiative. But everywhere else in the world there is a procedure - one that acknowledges their offices, but also the protocol required to go through the arrivals and departure procedure.”

Government will soon come up with Cabinet papers on the subject, he added.

“It could be the source of embarrassment if we did not recognise dignitaries the way I am, and we are, recognised there,” the Premier continued.

He said the delegation had been provided with 24-hour security and transportation everywhere they went.

“And this is from island to island, country to country and when I go to the UK it is the same thing. It would be conspicuous if we did not do the same thing. It would not be an oversight it would actually be an affront,” Mr. Scott said.

“I'm right at the airplane, believe it or not, the car drives to the tarmac and meets me. Does that sound familiar? And it's not a case of being mistaken for a Governor.”

Airport officials were taken aback in March when, contrary to established protocol, the Premier's official car showed up on the runway to pick him up after a trip abroad.

Mr. Scott said then that it had been his driver's mistake, but he had brought the matter up with the Governor and requested that the Premier of Bermuda be accorded the same Airport privileges as the Governor and visiting dignitaries.

Ms Lottimore's expenses to TCI were paid for with Government funds, the Premier explained yesterday.

The DCI director had been on a course in the United Kingdom where she met her TCI counterpart and travelled from the UK to TCI.

The Premier also had an hour-long audience with TCI Governor Jim Polston who informed him that he will be here for a Governors conference on the invitation of Bermuda Governor Sir John Vereker.

Mr. Scott's keynote address had not been made available to the media by Press time last night. Mr. Scott was speaking from Miami as he made his way back to the Island.

“I miss the Press. I was going through withdrawal symptoms down there because the Press couldn't get me,” he quipped.