The long-running dispute between Bermuda and the United States over the former US Baselands took a step closer to being resolved this week, Premier Jennifer Smith told MPs yesterday.

Bermuda has called on Britain to put pressure on the US to clean up the former Baselands, particularly Morgan's Point, so they can be developed.

In the House of Assembly the Premier said the Privy Council in London had passed an order in council on Tuesday which brings Bermuda under the UK Visiting Forces Act.

It was not clear from the Premier's statement how this change will push forward attempts to resolve the Baselands dispute.

She said the Visiting Forces Act “establishes the terms under which foreign forces may visit the UK and those Overseas Territories specified in the relevant Order''.

“The inclusion of Bermuda in the list of Overseas Territories covered by the legislation provides a statutory framework to govern any foreign forces that may visit Bermuda.

“This measure has become necessary as a result of the joint efforts of the Bermuda Government and the British government to conclude negotiations with the United States government on the termination of the 1941 Leased Bases Agreement and to repeal the (Bermuda) United States Bases Agreement Act 1952.

“Accordingly, I hasten to add that this is an important first step,'' the Premier said.

“This provision has been made in advance of the repeal of the US Bases Agreement Act so as to allow the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to be extended to Bermuda.”SOFA gives limited immunity in civil or criminal matters to NATO forces visiting Bermuda. SOFA was similar to the laws under which American forces operated when they were in Bermuda.

Ms Smith said she hoped to make a more definitive statement in the New Year.