Pamela Gordon fly to England this month for a three-day conference on topics vital to Bermuda's future.

The Premier finally broke her silence on the issue yesterday when she issued a statement confirming she will be attending the conference at St. Antony's College, Oxford, from January 19 to 21.

A team of international scholars, civil servants and British MPs will discuss issues such as "Bermuda in the New World,'' "Offshore Finance in an Offshore World,'' and "Implications for Development and Opportunity''.

It is hoped Overseas Territories Minister Baroness Scotland will attend the event at St. Antony's, a post-graduate college specialising in international affairs which regularly holds such seminars.

Bermuda-based author and art collector Geoffrey Elliott, an honorary fellow of St. Antony's, has been the driving force behind the conference.

Despite media stories about the event, the Premier ignored requests for information or even confirmation about the conference until yesterday.

In a statement, she said: "The conference should prove to be an extremely valuable experience for all those in attendance and should also encourage a deeper understanding of the current situation in Bermuda, while helping to identify future options within the global community.'' Oxford conference She will be joined by Finance Minister Eugene Cox, Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox, Environment, Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister, Government Chief of Staff Sen. David Burch, and Ms Gordon.

Delegates include Sir Alister McIntyre, a former vice-chairman of the University of the West indies, Winston Cox, Commonwelath Deputy Secretary with responsibility for regional co-operation, Caroline Doggart, author of the Economist Intelligence unit report on tax havens, Dr. Thandika Mkandawire of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and British Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Ian Davidson.

The conference will be private but the Premier will issue a press statement "in due course'' after it is concluded.