A US political aide came to Bermuda to celebrate his mother-in-law's birthday -- not visit the Baselands as Government had announced.

Last week Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister announced in The Royal Gazette that a US senator's advisor would tour the Baselands on the weekend to see first hand the mess left behind by the US Navy.

And on Sunday Mr. Lister identified Wayne Glass, legislative assistant to US Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, as the official on the Island for the tour.

But Mr. Glass told The Royal Gazette he was on the Island simply to celebrate his mother-in-law's birthday.

"I didn't look at the Bases at all,'' said Mr. Glass from Washington, DC.

"I saw the article in the newspaper and I thought `Oh good, they managed to get another person to come down and look at the Base'.

"I was going to call someone in Washington to find out who it was -- and I guess it was me.'' Mr. Glass went on to say he had already visited the Island last August to inspect the Morgan's Point property.

On that occasion he was accompanied by then Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and other Government officials.

More recently, Mr. Glass met with Mr. Lister last week in Washington.

"He and two other Cabinet members came and we met and talked about what kinds of strategies were being pursued to see about getting the US to step up to the plate and do the right thing,'' said Mr. Glass.

"And that's when I told them I was coming to Bermuda. It was my understanding that I wasn't expected to tour the bases.

"I did not indicate, nor did they indicate, I would tour the facilities. I did not indicate that. I was coming for personal reasons.'' And while on the Island Mr. Glass said he had no formal communication with Government officials -- except to accept a bouquet of flowers from Premier Jennifer Smith to his mother-in-law.

Mr. Lister downplayed the incident, but admitted his announcement was made before final schedule details or committments had been made.

"Our intent was to get him down to the base if we could arrange it,'' said Mr. Lister. "In his case he has already seen it.'' And while he said it was "unfortunate'' officials were unable to arrange a second site visit for Mr. Glass, he remained optimistic about the continued lobbying of US leaders and possibility for future inspection visits.

Terry Lister MILITARY MIL ENVIRONMENT ENV