-- but then must leave for good -- says Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman.

Mr. Pearman told The Royal Gazette that Mr. Stavisky's appeal of a decision to place him on the Island's "stop list'' had been heard and dismissed.

But the Minister said he agreed this week to a request from Mr. Stavisky's lawyer that the Boston businessman be allowed to visit for up to two weeks.

"We are being very obliging -- we're very humane,'' Mr. Pearman said.

At the same time, "there's not a change of heart'', he said. "I can assure you he's coming back for a very specific, controlled period.'' Mr. Stavisky, a director of the Hamiltonian Hotel & Island Club time sharing development in Pembroke, was convicted last year of embezzling $150,000 from Hamiltonian investors.

He was given a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined $60,000 in a Massachusetts court.

Mr. Pearman then announced Mr. Stavisky had been placed on Bermuda's stop list, only to learn he was already on the Island, attending a Hamiltonian directors' meeting.

Mr. Stavisky was subsequently removed from the stop list after his lawyer, Mr.

Julian Hall, protested his treatment.

Natural justice demanded that Mr. Stavisky be allowed to make representations before losing his right to enter Bermuda, Mr. Hall said.

Mr. Pearman said the appeal was heard in October and dismissed.

While he would not be specific, Mr. Pearman said the visit Mr. Stavisky planned was not for a business reason.

Contacted in Boston, Mr. Stavisky said Mr. Pearman's comments were news to him. "I've never had a hearing yet, that I'm aware of,'' he said.

"I was due to come to Bermuda this week, but I didn't because my wife is sick again.'' Mr. Stavisky believed he was still off Bermuda's stop list. Mr. Hall could not be reached for comment.