Opposition acting Tourism spokesman Allan Marshall and tourism activist Tony Brannon have called for a rethink on how the annual Jazzfest jazz festival is promoted after former promoter Lee Heiman pulled out.

Mr. Marshall said Mr. Heiman had delivered a devastating critique of the Tourism Minister and his department after the Track Entertainment boss walked away in disgust over Government hostility.

Last year's event was eventually cancelled after terrorism fears grounded planes but it had already been riddled with controversy after Mr. Heiman claimed his US crew had been threatened by men with machetes while he had been threatened with jail over unpaid work permit fees.

And Mr. Brannon said he was worried how well this year's festival, believed to be in September, would fare as no acts were booked and no promoter was in place.

There was no mention of dates for the annual jazz festival on the Bermuda Government's website last night.

Mr. Brannon said: "It's February in one or two days but there is still no announcement of who the promoter is."

Mr. Brannon said the jazz festival had been promoted badly and far too late on the Island for a number of years.

He said: "Every year we have been a Johnny-come-lately."

He said last year it was June before the acts were announced. Acts should be booked by December suggested Mr. Brannon to get the most from the $250,000 Government subsidy.

And Mr. Marshall also said a rethink was needed.

He said: "We need a complete review to understand why this thing has failed, to look at interference from the Ministry, why there was no cooperation between the immigration and tourism departments (over work permits). This reflects badly on Bermuda, the department and the Minister."

After failing to respond to the issue on Monday, Government yesterday hit back at some of Mr. Heiman's claims made in The Royal Gazette.

Attacking Mr. Heiman's claim that he had been asked to submit a written bid three weeks ago Tourism Director Judith Hall-Bean said he had been invited to give a proposal in early December along with other local and international producers but on January 2 had said he was not interested.

Ms Hall-Bean contradicted Mr. Heiman's claim that Government wasn't a sponsor, pointing out that they put in $250,000 and had their name plastered all over the event.

She added: "The Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDOT) has the responsibility to adhere to current Immigration policies, and all production companies and partners of the BDOT are required to adhere to these policies.

"Track Entertainment was required to hire a local partner whose responsibility included processing the Immigration permits covered by these policies."

But Mr. Marshall said it was shocking after last year's debacle that Track Entertainment should have been invited to bid for the contract.

"The Ministry is trying to pick away at Mr. Heiman's comments when the bigger picture shows Jazz Festival is really not performing to the standard expected, particularly last year."