Island could do to sort out its US mail difficulties.

Postmaster General Cleveland Crichlow said Bermuda could complain over seasonal delays in mail deliveries but could not force the US Postal Service or airlines to rectify the situation.

He spoke after it was revealed that US mail to the Island was routed via the UK between December and April to avoid becoming backlogged at New York's JFK airport.

The US Postal Service said it flew the mail with British Airways because it was the only reliable method of getting post to the Island during the winter.

Mr. Crichlow said the situation was frustrating, particularly for the business community, and noted the mail no longer had the priority it used to have.

"That is the only get we can get it. It was either that or via sea containers...which was a crazy way of doing it.

"This way, at least we can expect mail on a regular basis from British Airways.'' Although the post flew several thousand miles across the Atlantic and back again, Mr. Crichlow said it was still quicker than waiting for US carriers to find space for it on their flights.

Up until a few weeks ago, Bermuda was experiencing some problems with its US mail, which at one point had reduced to a trickle. Then, a mountain of post arrived within a matter of days and postal workers were forced to work nights and weekends to clear the backlog.

US Postal Service spokesman Tom Gaynor said all US mail went to London then Bermuda between December and April due to the smaller aircraft and less frequent flights from the US to Bermuda during that period.

have been forced to fly on existing carriers and have to make arrangements with carriers that can take mail. The reason for the sudden deluge was the start up of the seasonal flights in April, which gave capacity for the mail waiting at JFK.'' British Airways confirmed it was currently carrying US mail to the Island.

Its Boeing 777 service between Bermuda and London, which flies three times a week in the winter, has a huge cargo space.

Mr. Crichlow noted that Bermuda's inbound US mail was paid for overseas so the Island had no control over what happened to it before it arrived here.

"The only people that can work that out is the US Postal Service with the airlines. Whilst I can make suggestions, I can't make them do it.'' Around five or six years ago, Bermuda received mail from other US airports -- including Philadelphia and Atlanta -- but operations were consolidated at JFK and one carrier, American Airlines, was charged with bringing the mail.