year has run into problems yet again -- with the organisation marketing the event threatening to sue the Government.

The World Conference of Mayors is set to be held on the Island in November and is expected to attract 1,500 visitors.

But the president of the organisation hired to promote the conference claims she may take legal action against Government unless her company gets more funding.

Bonnie Marshall of the African American Global Trade and Tourism Council claims Government is not keeping to its contract.

And she also accused the Ministry of Tourism of not being interested in expanding the African American tourism market.

Government signed a $100,000 contract with the World Conference of Mayors as one of the major sponsor for the event.

The World Conference of Mayors has in turn taken on the AAGTTC as agents to promote the conference. The Government paid the AAGTTC a $15,000 finders fee but the remaining $100,000 is to be paid to the WCOM.

Last night Tourism Minister David Dodwell dismissed Ms Marshall's claims saying that part of the cash had already been paid up front -- even though the council had yet to come up with a complete marketing plan.

Trouble plagues conference "The Ministry of Tourism has a contract with the World Conference of Mayors and they have appointed the AAGTTC as an agent and so there is a contract between those two parties -- part of that contract is to come up with a marketing and promotions plan for the conference,'' he said.

"Ms Marshall is upset because she feels that she's been stymied in her attempts to get funding for the conference. Because she's not getting her money she's threatening to sue.

"But there was a finders fee of $15,000 that we have already paid and we have also paid another $25,000 of the $100,000. A further $10,000 is being processed as we speak. The rest is being held pending the presentation of a marketing plan. The contract lists a number of items that have to be developed before it can be accepted. Our concern is that we need to see this marketing plan before we spend the taxpayer's money.

"What we are saying is just produce the rest of your marketing plan -- that's just not happening.'' Mr. Dodwell added that World Conference of Mayors director, Mayor Johnny Ford, had contacted the ministry a week ago saying that, although he still wanted the conference to go ahead, he was seeking to renegotiate his agreement with the Government as he was anxious to proceed with the conference with or without the involvement of Ms Marshall.

He later contacted the Ministry saying he wanted to give Ms Marshall more time to come up with a marketing plan.

Mr. Dodwell also dismissed Ms Marshall's claims that the Government was showing only half-hearted enthusiasm for the conference.

"We really want this thing to go ahead,'' he said.

"Our investment in this is not only an investment in the conference but also in the African American community. We want to develop the African American market and the conference fitted in with our marketing objectives.'' Mr. Dodwell said he had not been able to contact Mr. Ford since hearing the news on Friday that the Government could be sued.

But he said that he did not see the latest development as a serious threat to the event.

"There's no reason why it should not and could not go ahead,'' he said.