Two officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are on the Island this week for what Deputy Governor Tim Gurney calls "a mixed round of meetings on the Bases issue".

Negotiations are still ongoing on cleaning up environmental damage at the former US Bases since the Americans handed the property back to Bermuda in 1995.

The former Naval Annex in Southampton was left with raw sewage and thousands of gallons of oil in underlying caves.

And the former US naval air station at St. David's was left with substantial amounts of asbestos and other pollutants.

The clean up bill for both sites has been estimated to be around $60 million. And the United Kingdom Government is helping Bermuda lobby the United States Government to assume full responsibility.

An acceptable resolution has been elusive with the United States Government saying it will pay only for clean ups when there is an "imminent risk to health".

But just months after the 1998 General Election the Bermuda Government was able to secure the commitment of the UK Government to pull out all the stops in using their influence with the United States.

Since then Government has taken a back seat to direct negotiations with the United States, the UK Government commissioned an environmental study which confirmed extensive damage and serious talks have been taking place at the highest levels.

And the Bermuda Government has been expressing greater confidence that the efforts will yield fruit.

In the meantime the issue has been the major factor delaying the start of a multi-million dollar development at King's Point.

FCO officials Ian Hendry and Caroline Rowett were due to arrive on the Island last night for a two day visit.

Minister of Development and Opportunity Terry Lister, who has responsibility for the former Bases was unavailable for comment yesterday.