private sector drive to work with the Boston-based Monitor Group, but the Opposition Progressive Labour Party has yet to be approached.

BIU president Derrick Burgess yesterday told The Royal Gazette that Cummings Zuill, senior vice president of the Bank of Bermuda and the man spearheading the effort, had met with union officers some weeks ago.

"This is the right thing to do. BIU members play a big part in the tourism industry and it's only proper we become part of the process,'' Mr. Burgess said. "We don't mind being involved, we'll do anything to help turnaround the industry.'' Industry sources earlier this week told The Royal Gazette they had been invited to information sessions on what and how Monitor could resurrect the Island's tourism sector.

Retailers and hoteliers were told initial costs could climb as high as $800,000, with an overall price tag running into the millions over a couple of years. Government has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar all funds raised.

Mr. Burgess said the union could not afford to make a financial commitment to the process.

But the PLP has yet to be approached or asked to participate in the process, Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen said.

"To my knowledge there hasn't been an official or unofficial approach, and as Shadow Minister I'm sure I would've heard about something,'' he said last night.