lead singer of the Bermuda Strollers, since the musician's acquittal on drug charges.

Mr. Ming's nephew Mr. Duane Santucci, the group's manager, has accused Government of victimising Mr. Ming.

He says Tourism won't pay the band's airfare to Massachusetts, where they have been asked to perform as part of the Jerry Lewis charity telethon. He stresses the Strollers can pay the fares if they need to. But he feels Government should jump at a chance of cheap mass publicity.

He also says Tourism have dropped Mr. Ming from their college weeks schedule this year after years of working with him.

"I think they're trying to blackball him,'' said Mr. Santucci. "It's time they started treating this man as every other citizen that walks this Island that doesn't have a criminal record.'' Mr. Ming had a conviction for cocaine smuggling overturned by the Appeals Court last year. He had been sentenced to 20 years.

Mr. Santucci said Mr. Ming had been an ambassador for Bermuda for 38 years, and deserved better treatment after his release.

He said telethon organisers had approached Tourism and asked them to pay the airfares.

But Tourism director Mr. Gary Phillips had told the group he could not sponsor them because of budget restrictions.

"All Bermuda is really being asked to do is spend $2,300 on airfares,'' said Mr. Santucci.

"If they can find $550,000 to promote Bermuda in Europe, when they say they don't have any money, what the heck is $2,300 when they would get millions of dollars worth of publicity in return? "I have no doubt that the actions that are being taken now are a direct result of the trial.'' For years the group has been contacted by Tourism and given a performance schedule for the college season, he said.

"Upon his release everything should have gone back to normal. The group has nothing to do with his case.

"When he went to the department this year for a schedule he was very shocked to find out he has no employment with them.'' Mr. Santucci said he was hoping to persuade Sir John to reverse Tourism's decisions.

"I will fight it to the very bitter end.''