A joint diplomatic trip to Washington with the new Ewart Brown Government is planned for the spring, said US Consul General Gregory Slayton. But he said it was too early to tell how the major changes in the US Congress will affect Bermuda.

The Democrats gained about 30 seats to take control of the House of Representatives and picked up five of the six Republican seats they need for a Senate majority.

In the last US Presidential elections, Democrat John Kerry pledged to close down ?tax loopholes? that allowed billions of dollars to go to Bermuda. But Mr. Kerry was defeated by incumbent George Bush.

Asked about the effect of the mid-term election results, Mr. Slayton said: ?It?s too early to tell. It really depends on what the leadership decides to do in the House. ?If it decides to make off-shoring a big issue, Bermuda might end up in the crosshairs. But I seriously doubt it.?

Mr. Slayton, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, said Bermuda had plenty of friends among the Democrats including GK Butterfield who has close family ties with Bermuda.

Asked if there were plans to repeat May?s diplomatic trip which saw former Premier Alex Scott and other senior Government figures enjoy high level talks with senior Washington figures, Mr. Slayton said: ?Absolutely!?

He added: ?I was speaking to the new Premier at lunch today ? I very much enjoy Ewart ? and the plan is to go forward with another trip in the spring.?

Mr. Slayton said Dr. Brown already had his own contacts in Washington who would prove useful.

Dr. Brown?s press secretary Scott Simmons, responding to the US election results, said: ?The Premier does not see the Democrats assuming control of Congress as an immediate concern. He observes that there are many friends of Bermuda in Washington on both sides of the political divide who are well placed.

?Long serving member of the House of Representatives Mr Charles Rangel (Democrat) of New York?s 15th District is personally known to the Premier and his wife and is expected to assume full responsibility of the powerful Ways and Means Committee as its chairman. Once the dust settles the Premier expects to have access to him.? Mr. Simmons said the Premier?s desire is to visit Washington to maintain existing relationships and create new ones and there has already been an invitation from one congressman to the Premier to visit the US capital.

Dr. Brown foresees Bermuda taking full membership of CARICOM ?once Bermuda becomes independent,? according to Mr. Simmons, and on the issue of the Island?s links with Cuba he said Government would follow the lead of the UK.

International business chief David Ezekiel said Bermuda shouldn?t be too concerned about the American elections which saw massive changes in Congress.

Although the Republicans were seen as more business friendly he said Bermuda was less exposed as relations with America were much better than in previous years.

Mr. Ezekiel, who is chairman of the Association of Bermuda International Companies, said: ?I think Bermuda relationship with the US is working very, very well.

?There might be someone who makes a bit of noise but when push comes to shove we are well placed.?

Some commentators are saying the new Democrat influx into Congress is fairly conservative which might lessen any concerns to Bermuda.

Mr. Ezekiel agreed and said: ?And anyway we are much better positioned given the strong dialogue that?s been created between us and the US. Gregory Slayton has done a lot to open up the channels of communication.?

The next presidential election is in November 2008 and Bush is not eligible to run for re-election.