Three Bermudians have had their hopes of spending a year touring the world with Up With People dashed after the organisation voted this week to cease operations.

And a slate of performances planned for the Island in April will not go ahead after the 35-year-old not-for-profit organisation said it was no longer financially viable after accruing debts of more than $7 million.

Up With People plans to complete activities for the remainder of the year but will not resume normal activities in January.

Local alumnus delMonte Davis told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he had been deluged with faxes, phone calls and e-mails from alumni and parents who had heard the news.

And he added: "On a personal level it's like losing a member of the family.

Up With People is something that has been in existence for 35 years. There are some 20,000 alumni around the globe who are today learning that something very close to them is no longer there.

"Alumni around the world are very concerned about this but hopefully something can come out of it.'' His thoughts were echoed by fellow alumnus Holly Sinclair, who received the news on her birthday: "I was terribly shocked. Like any other alumnus I am very upset that this is happening to this wonderful organisation, which was an excellent learning experience and allowed me to interact with different cultures and see other parts of the world.'' There are currently 655 students enrolled in the programme who are concluding tours in Massachusetts, Denmark, New York, Japan and France. Three of them are Bermudians.

Board chairman Tom Badciong said the decision was made based on exhaustive reviews of the organisation and its inability to financially sustain its operation.

"Clearly, we can no longer continue to operate as we have been,'' he said.

"In order to resume regular operations in the future, it will require significant restructuring. We will be considering all options.'' The board has authorised selling its headquarters and property in Colorado to reduce debt.

Lisa Limoges, vice president for international student programmes, said students are in the process of adjourning for a three-week winter holiday or completing their year in the programme.

"We are ensuring that all students who are currently on the road with our programme have made adequate travel plans to return home, and we are in the process of notifying these students and their parents of the suspension of all Up with People tour activities in 200l,'' she said.

ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINERS ENT