Three former Premiers revealed yesterday that their mail was subject to searches by customs officers when they led the country -and said they wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Alex Scott, David Saul and Sir David Gibbons told The Royal Gazette that they never raised the issue of their post being opened at the airport <> unlike Premier Ewart Brown.

Dr. Brown is alleged to have told customs officers at a meeting earlier this month that he didn’t appreciate them checking courier packages sent to him or his wife, Wanda Henton Brown.

The officers were sent a directive last year by Collector of Customs Winniefred Fostine-DeSilva telling them to contact a supervisor before checking Dr. Brown’s mail <> but some have ignored the instruction. They have the right to check anyone’s post if they are suspicious about the contents, apart from official mail sent to Government House or the United States Consulate General.

Mr. Scott, Progressive Labour Party Premier from 2003 to 2006, told this newspaper: “I never requested or received special courtesy. That was, I think, quite appropriate.

”I wouldn’t like it to be thought that all Premiers requested that. I<>certainly didn’t.”

Dr. Brown’s predecessor said it was true that individuals had used the names and addresses of public figures to try to get illegal material into the country.

”No one wants to compromise the security system,” said Mr. Scott. “In that regard, let the officers [do their job] unfettered.”

Dr. Saul, United Bermuda Party Premier between 1995 and 1997, said: “My mail was opened and the little stamp was put on it.

"What’s wrong with that? If you have nothing to hide, what difference does it make? I can’t even imagine on this little island why anyone would want to take umbrage at that.”

He said that since the Premier of Bermuda was not engaged in military affairs or international relations, there was no reason for their mail not to be searched, like mail sent to any other citizen

”I would say that the Premier of Bermuda should be subject to the laws, just like anyone else. If anything was confidential or related to security, it should come in the diplomatic pouch for Government House.

”Anything coming to my wife, just like to me, should have been subject to Customs inspection.”

Sir David Gibbons, UBP<><>Premier from 1977 to 1982, said he thought Dr. Brown’s alleged remarks to customs officers were unreasonable.

”I had no objection whatever to having the mail checked,”he said. “I never raised it, no. Anybody in Bermuda, from the Premier down, should be subject to any normal regulations.”

It is understood that Ms Fostine-DeSilva told customs officers that official mail sent to Dr. Brown should be treated in the same way as official mail sent in a diplomatic bag to the Governor or US Consul General.

The procedure for handling official mail sent to those two foreign post-holders is contained in the international conventions set out in the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1980 and the Consular Relations Act 1971.

A Government House spokesman said yesterday: "The diplomatic bag carries official mail - in the UK case, from London to Government House, and in the United States Consul General’s case, from Washington to her Consulate General.

”Under the international conventions which you quote, diplomatic bags should not be opened by the customs services of the countries to which they are sent.

"Any privilege extended to local VIPs would be a different matter, presumably one for local legislation or administrative decision.”

Finance Minister Paula Cox, who is responsible for HM Customs, has not responded to requests for comment on the directive. Ms Fostine-DeSilva said yesterday that any comment would come from the Ministry of Finance.

Former Finance Minister and UBP MP Grant Gibbons said the directive and Dr. Brown’s alleged remarks sounded like “pure nonsense”.

During the period I was Minister of Finance, certainly no one was considered to be above the law when it came to complying with Customs requirements.”<>*t(0,0,” “)<>ends