Government could not take control of Base properties used for sporting events because it may have undermined its negotiating position on the takeover of the rest of the Base lands, Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons said yesterday.

Mr. Gibbons was responding to criticisms from sporting organisations which have lost the use of facilities at the US Naval Annex after the US Navy said it could no longer provide security at the Southampton base.

The Navy is gradually winding down its presence in Bermuda before completely closing its bases on September 1. Government is now negotiating the takeover of the lands.

Responding to news that the US Navy had offered to let Government provide security for sports facilties a year ago, Mr. Gibbons said: "I have great sympathy for those sporting organisations which have been displaced by the imminent closure of the US Bases in Bermuda.

"But I would not want them to get the impression that if we had been a little more efficient, it might have been done in a different, more comfortable way.

"Taking back and using the land, before negotiations over the conditions of its return had been completed , is an option which in the Government's judgment, and in the judgment of those advising us, would undermine our negotiating position.

"As a result, a solution to this problem is not quickly and easily reached.

No-one can say with any certainty when these negotiations will be behind us, but it is unlikely to be in the near future.'' He added: "In the meantime, The Ministry of Youth and Sport has represented the view of affected sports groups to the Utilisation Committee, who are concerned with how we are going to use the base lands in the future. The Ministry is also working on behalf of these groups to help them find alternative locations where possible.''