The main sponsors of the World Conference of Mayors are to re-open the controversy surrounding the sacking of event organiser Bonnie Marshall.

Black promotions group Bermuda Forum, the convention's $100,000 title sponsor, will hold their own inquiry into Ms Marshall's background.

President Corin Smith said: "I have had an excellent working relationship with Ms Marshall over the past six months and do not have reason to believe that the reports are a fair reflection of her capabilities or her background.'' Department of Tourism officials scrapped their agreement with Ms Marshall earlier this month, saying she had not produced a marketing plan.

But tourism chiefs had already paid her $35,000, before severing ties amid revelations about her past business dealings. Now a new agreement has been thrashed out to bring the conference to Bermuda.

WCOM director general Johnny Ford confirmed the event would still be staged in November and the Department of Tourism would now take responsibility for promotional work. But Mr. Smith added: "The Bermuda Forum was formed to provide Ms Marshall and other like-minded individuals with support in making Bermuda more accessible to persons of African descent.

"We expected this initiative to be controversial for certain segments and are adequately prepared to deal with their concerns.

"We nevertheless hope that the controversy will stimulate Bermudians to consider whether our need for fair and accurate reporting is being adequately served by the media.'' He said Ms Marshall's legal team -- led by Phil Perinchief -- would be represented at the inquiry, with results being made available to other event sponsors.

A review of the event would also be made available for US mayors and congressmen, he added.

"The Bermuda Forum has a vested interest in keeping its trading partners in the United States aware of the business climate in Bermuda,'' said Mr. Smith.

"The clouded atmosphere surrounding the 1998 convention is unprecedented, even for an event that was previously held in Nigeria during the height of the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha.

"The Bermuda Forum has a comprehensive file on this matter and is satisfied that all the sources of the local controversy will be adequately disclosed.

"It is our hope that this report will lay the foundation for more successful events in the future, the most notable of which is the Middle Passage Monument Project.'' The Bermuda Forum will give more details of its inquiry at a public meeting on Thursday in the BIU Dr. E.F. Gordon Memorial Hall at 7.30 p.m.