Tourism chiefs appear to still be at loggerheads with the organisation hired to promote a prestigious international conference on the Island -- despite calls for talks between the two warring parties.

Last week it was revealed that the African American Global Trade and Tourism Council, which is marketing the World Conference of Mayors to be held in October, had threatened to sue the Department of Tourism for failing to provide much needed sponsorship cash.

And yesterday a lawyer representing the council called for talks between the groups so that differences could be ironed out.

Philip Perinchief told The Royal Gazette that the AAGTTC was still determined that the conference should go ahead but it would be necessary for the two parties to meet.

And he also insisted his client had made a contract with the Department of Tourism in March and had already come up with a marketing profile for the conference.

"Both sides need to be flexible on this,'' Mr. Perinchief said. "We have requested a meeting with the Minister of Tourism and the Director of Tourism.

We need to recognise that this thing is going to be of mutual benefit and we need to get it back on track.'' Mr. Perinchief also claimed that AAGTTC chief, Bonnie Marshall, had been solely responsible for bringing the event to Bermuda and that, although part of a $100,000 sponsorship fund from the Ministry had already been paid, the rest of the cash should be handed out.

But Tourism Minister David Dodwell last night dismissed Mr. Perinchief's claims.

And he hinted that the Ministry would be seeking advice from the Solicitor General before it sat down to talks with the AAGTTC.

"We have a contract with the World Conference of Mayors dated May 19 and that's the only formal contract between the Government and any organisation,'' Mr. Dodwell said.

"We have no contract with Bonnie Marshall -- there might have been discussions about potential contracts but nothing formal.

"We have been told that Bonnie Marshall then has a relationship with the World Conference, although we are not privy to those terms.

"The question of whether or not we attend any meeting would be up to the Solicitor General -- with the threat of a lawsuit it wouldn't be appropriate to sit down unless he recommends it.'' The Ministry did pay out $15,000 to Ms Marshall's organisation as a finders fee. A further $25,000 has also been paid to the World Conference of Mayors as part of the $100,000 sponsorship package.

"But the marketing plan has still not appeared as outlined in the contract between ourselves and the World Conference of Mayors,'' Mr. Dodwell added.

World Conference of Mayors director Johnny Ford is will be arriving in Bermuda for meetings with the Ministry next week.