failing to pay a renowned humanitarian for a speaking engagement broke her silence this week.

And Akinstall International's Valirie Akinstall claimed Premier Pamela Gordon initiated the investigation which had financially ruined her.

"People do things and do not care who they hurt. I am totally financially devastated. I have done a lot of work for women's issues. I have never seen anyone treated the way I am being treated. I have had enough.'' She also slammed The Royal Gazette for printing a story with "no regard for how it would affect me''.

"You want to know why it took me five months to call you? I was not in a great hurry to be on the front page of your newspaper.'' The widow of Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, spoke at a May 28 symposium which was organised by the research and development group. An anonymous source later said Mrs. Scott King was not paid.

A Police spokesman later confirmed that officers were investigating alleged "irregularities'' surrounding Mrs. King's visit.

Ms Akinstall said "people pulled strings'' to launch the investigation into her business with the intent of financially ruining her.

"It was Pamela Gordon who initiated the investigation,'' she claimed, adding that the investigation had "literally shut down'' her business.

"I have mistletoe in my coat tails for that woman -- you can quote me,'' she exclaimed. "She abused her position of power. How dare she try to destroy me?'' But Ms Gordon replied: "I can't help this woman's opinion of me. All that I can say is that I don't know this woman. It is most unfortunate if Ms Akinstall believes I have a personal vendetta against her but I have only met her twice.'' Ms Akinstall said the Premier knew the financial details of her organisation and the fact that paying Mrs. Scott King would have left it with a deficit.

The organisation had sought corporate sponsors and help from Government to put on the event, she explained, and was still in discussions when Mrs. Scott King arrived.

But she pointed out: "When Coretta Scott King left the Island she was fully paid.'' "Coretta Scott King was paid by a benefactor,'' continued Ms Akinstall. "The benefactor was the person who actually paid her fee.'' However she declined to name the benefactor. She said Ms Gordon should reveal the person's name. "Get it straight from the horse's mouth.'' Ms Akinstall said when the investigation was launched she turned over her organisation's documents voluntarily but noted that the matter seemed "to be of acute interest'' to Ms Gordon.

And she questioned why Police officers seized documents relating to her group's accreditation within the United Nations.

"I don't know why people would think my organisation is fraudulent,'' she said.

"Why, if the Police are investigating the payment of a VIP, would they frog leap over to a completely separate issue and ask if my organisation was accredited to the UN? "Their opportunity and motive is unclear to me.'' Ms Gordon declined to comment on issues pertaining to the investigation. "I am unable to comment further due to the case.'' Ms Akinstall said she wanted to get her life back on track.

"If they have a case they should arrest me. They can't do much more. They've totally destroyed my business. I want to be financially compensated for what they have done.

"Either arrest me and go to trial or finish up the investigation and let me get on with my life. What is all this about? Enough is damn enough.''