He's here as a tourist, but Sety Toure doesn't mind offering his spiritual healing services to those in need when he's not out sightseeing.

The 45-year-old marabout from Guinea, West Africaraised some eyebrows last week when he placed an advert in The Royal Gazette saying he was available for consultations on any manner of problems.

"I just heard about Bermuda and I said I have to come for vacation," Mr. Toure said when asked how he came to visit the Island. He divides his time between homes in Toronto, Canada and his native Guinea where his grandfather, M'bemba Toure, guided him on the marabout path.

His grandfather, a "miracle man" who was highly respected in Mere, his village in the eastern Boke province in Guinea, knew that he would inherit his powers before he was even born, Mr. Toure said.

"When I was born I was always with him. He taught me and told me how to do things."

As a spiritual healer, he claims, he can resolve problems with bad luck, love, marital life, and even evil spells or witchcraft, he said.

He plied his trade in France for 15 years before moving on to Toronto in 1999. In between he has worked in Miami, Los Angeles and New York.

Asked how he would turn around someone's luck, his reply was simple. "I pray to God. Everything I do, it comes from God. God made mankind and he gave different powers for everybody, different knowledge. You know something I don't know and we have very different knowledge. And when you have spiritual knowledge you can do many things," he said.

"People who don't have spiritual knowledge will say it's `blah blah'. But if you have spiritual knowledge you can do many things."

Asked whether he had a work permit to offer his services here he said he was here simply to have a vacation but is willing to talk to anyone who needs help and he can be reached in Canada.

"I'm not coming to stay here, I just came for a vacation."

Contacted at home last night, Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer said he was not aware if Mr. Toure had a work permit, which was required if he is doing business on the Island.