BERMUDA is to host an international conference on Women in Public Life for the second time.

Tourism, Telecommunications & E-Commerce Minister Ren?e Webb announced yesterday that this year's event was planned for May this year at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel.

Bermuda last hosted the Women in Public Life Conference, aimed at discussions on how to maximise opportunities for women, in October, 2002.

On that occasion one of the speakers was Cherie Booth, a London barrister and the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

This May's event will be entitled the World Summit on Women in Public Life and Ms Webb promised multi-national participation, but declined to name any delegates for the time being.

"The Committee which I chair is in dialogue with many of the leading women on the world stage and I will soon be in a position to name some of our principal speakers and guests," Ms Webb said in a press release.

"I can promise a truly international line-up which will complement many distinguished local speakers."

The conference will be held from May 27 to 30 and will be opened by Premier Alex Scott.

Ms Webb added: "Following the successful Women in Public Life Conference held in Bermuda in October 2002, the World Summit will give Bermuda an opportunity to host an important dialogue concerning the role of women in today's challenging and complex society.

"It will also allow us to discuss the steps that can be taken to break down the barriers which still prevent women from achieving their rightful goals and ambitions."

American civil rights leader the Reverend Jesse Jackson was billed as the keynote speaker on the Saturday of the 2002 conference, but pulled out at the last minute.

The conference also attracted criticism from then-United Bermuda Party MP Kim Young who said that the $500 tickets were beyond the means of those who might have benefited most from the conference.