Bermuda is gearing up to host influential politicians from across the world when it stages one of its largest conferences in more than 15 years.

Next week Finance Ministers, and some Government leaders, will descend on the Island for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference.

Forty-seven countries, ranging from Britain, South Africa, Turks and Caicos, India, Pakistan and the Falklands, will be represented through about 250 delegates and security will be tight, although low-key.

Nigeria has been suspended from the Commonwealth over civil rights issues and will not be represented, although the conference's Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku, is Nigerian.

Yesterday Ken Richardson, a former Cabinet Secretary and the organising brains behind the conference, said: "There have been some tremendous logistics involved.

"We started planning this about two years ago, asking hotels about rooms, dining facilities, bedrooms, public rooms and the number of rooms for office space and side meetings.'' In addition, 25 Bermuda civil servants will be working at the conference which starts next Tuesday and continues until Thursday at the Southampton Princess, where most of the delegates will also stay.

Ministers to meet in Bermuda No agenda has yet been drawn up and it is expected Bermuda's Finance Minister Grant Gibbons will meet with officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat next week to discuss what topics should be discussed.

Last year's conference, in Jamaica, dealt with issues including the world economic situation, debt, strategies for economic growth and the relief of poverty, money laundering and drugs.

The Bermuda Government has set aside about $350,000 to pay for the heads of delegations and their spouses. Other Governments cover the cost of any other officials travelling to Bermuda.

None of the conference will be open to the public although on the opening day, delegates will be in Hamilton and Dockyard where the Bermuda Regiment will Beat the Retreat and delegates will eat dinner.

"As well as the logistics of organising such an event there have also been the issues of protocol to address,'' said Mr. Richardson. "But I have enjoyed helping to organise the event.''