Tourism Minister David Allen's decision to change advertising agencies fulfils a longstanding position of the Progressive Labour Party.

Mr. Allen announced in the House of Assembly on Monday that final details of a contract with New York based ad agency Arnold McGrath were being ironed out.

The review was in order because the incumbent agency, J. Walter Thompson, had had the contract for three years, he said.

The PLP has long held that contracts should come up for review within three to five years to avoid long term tenures. The UBP had kept contracts going for as long as ten or 17 years.

Four agencies, including the incumbent, were short-listed during the review. A committee comprising from the tourism board considered detailed presentations and proposals as to how the Island should be advertised.

Tourism has also signed on with two African American agencies - Henderson Associates to mine the potentially lucrative African American market, and Emerald Entertainment which will create two on-Island events this year geared towards African American visitors.