the Island a bad reputation, a leading retailer has said.

Businessmen yesterday unanimously supported the view that although cruise line employees have engaged in the practice for decades, it is time they were stopped.

Trimingham Brothers president Eldon Trimingham warned: "Unscrupulous cruise directors can be a complete menace to the reputation of a destination. It's a shake down. It's almost a protection racket.'' Cruise ship officials have quite openly approached Bermuda merchants and demanded money or other concessions in exchange for steering visiting cruise ship passengers to their door.

The implication is that if a business does not "play ball'', not only will tourists not be sent to that business, but they may also hear uncomplimentary remarks to keep them away.

Said Mr. Trimingham: "If that is true, it would be very destructive to the reputation of the destination itself.

"I think that when a jurisdiction agrees to a contract with a cruise line, it should be agreed that this would not be tolerated, that nothing would be done that could be seen as harmful to that destination.'' Acting Director of Tourism, Carol Wills, said yesterday that it is an issue that has been discussed as part of the Minister's review of the cruise ship policy.

She said: "It is probably something that will be addressed, one way or another, when the policy review is completed, with recommendations.'' Earlier this month, Pier Six nightclub operator, Nelson Hunt, complained that representatives from one cruise ship had already asked for 30 percent of the club's cover charge to guarantee him passengers.

Henry Hayward, president of ship's agent Meyer Agencies Ltd. has already begun to investigate the claim, although he said yesterday that he was still waiting for an answer to a request for details of the allegation from Mr. Hunt. He said that the cruise ship lines were willing to take action against such cruise directors and he would investigate any claims.

Mr. William Boyle, president of shoe chain W.J. Boyle & Son Ltd., said: "They do come to us and ask us for crew discounts and you name it. I tell them I don't have the margins for it. I just don't like it.

"I do not believe in that sort of business and I will resist it,'' said Mr.

Boyle, also the Mayor of Hamilton. "Business of that nature taints everyone involved. I can understand the pressure someone in the entertainment business must be under from these people because they are very strong and very forceful.

"They are very organised when they come here. It is very tempting, I'm sure, because they do have a lot of numbers. I've been lucky, not to have to rely on that type of business. No-one likes it and no-one seems to know how to come to grips with it.'' H.A.&E. Smith Ltd. president, Roger Davidson said: "I don't know how widespread it is here any more, because we no longer pay them. They were all getting greedy, when we were giving them discounts decades ago. We just stopped it. They don't even come to us anymore.'' But Mr. Davidson, who is also president of Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd., which owns this newspaper, said he was concerned too that local tourist publications can't get aboard the ships, because of exclusivity agreements with an overseas operator who uses a local contact to sell advertising.

"They sell advertising and promotional space to the exclusion of Bermudian interests and we provide them with a comfortable and secure place to park their ships for four days a week.'' CRUISE SHIP SHI