Bermuda has the support of one of the most influential politicians in Washington in its attempt to get US funding for the clean-up of pollution at Morgan's Point.

Congressman Charles Rangel, the New York Democrat who heads the House of Representatives Committee of Ways and Means, told Premier Ewart Brown last week that he wanted to get the issue "on the agenda".

The issue of who pays for the clean-up of oil and sewage at the former US Naval Annex has held back development of the Sandys peninsula.

The bases agreement struck six years ago by the US and Britain, with some involvement from Bermuda, made no provision for the tens of millions of dollars estimated to be necessary to clean up the mess the American military left behind.

The US agreed to pay $11 million for the replacement of Longbird Bridge.

During an interview on Bermuda-US relations this week, Dr. Bown said his hopes for US financial help had been lifted by last week's bilateral talks with lawmakers in Washington.

"On paper, officially it is buried - it might not be dead," Dr. Brown said.

"It was last year that Congressman Rangel said 'I intend to get this back on the front burner'. At the time he said that would be if Hillary Clinton was the Democratic Party candidate for the US presidency, because he was supporting her."

Since then, Barack Obama has defeated Sen. Clinton in the Democratic primaries. Dr. Brown brought up the issue again over breakfast with Congressman Rangel on Capitol Hill last week. "I asked him: 'Has that gone away?'" the Premier said. "He said: 'By no means, I intend to get that on the agenda'.

"That would be great if the US would take another look at it, because I think we could have come out of that situation with a better deal."

Thousands of gallons of toxic sludge, including oil, sewage and heavy metals, needs to be cleared from Morgan's Point before development can start. The land is earmarked for a hotel and golf course development to be run by the Jumeirah Group.

"Now we're under pressure to deliver that property, contamination-free, so that the developers can get on with their business," Dr. Brown said.

"So it's very relevant right now and if they wish to come back and take another look, they would be welcome."

Ways and Means, the committee Rep. Rangel chairs, oversees matters of raising revenue, including taxation. With the Democrats holding a majority in the House, he exercises considerable influence.

In Washington, Congresswoman Diane Watson told this newspaper that she too believed the US Navy was responsible for cleaning up the mess it left behind at Morgan's Point.

The Premier was speaking with US Consul General Gregory Slayton. They also touched on issues such as the candidates in US presidential election, tourism and the private jet US pre-clearance agreement.