A hotel horror for Premier Pamela Gordon at a major UK -- Caribbean forum in the Bahamas was the result of a mix-up, the host country's government said.

Ms Gordon, Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and Attorney General Elliott Mottley found no room at the inn when they turned up in the Bahamian capital Nassau's Radisson Cable Beach Hotel.

She said later she had been bumped for a bunch of American tourists and did not find another hotel till midnight on the eve of the conference.

But a spokesman for the Bahamas Foreign Affairs Ministry said the Bermudian party had never been booked into the Radisson.

He added hotel arrangements had been made through the UK High Commission in the Bahamas.

But he said a general review by the Department of Protocol the day before the conference started found "a small number of delegates'' had no hotels to go to.

He added: "Reservations for all such persons were immediately confirmed at the Marriott Crystal Palace Hotel. There was therefore never any involvement by the Radisson Cable Beach Hotel in this matter.'' But he said a change in airline and time of arrival by the Premier and her party meant they were not met at the airport by Bahamas government drivers and they went to the wrong hotel by mistake. The spokesman added: "Upon discovering that there were no reservations for her at that hotel, the assistance of the forum coordinator was sought. He directed her to the Marriott where she was immediately and appropriately accommodated.'' The spokesman said that the island's government learned of the Premier's hotel horror through the media.

But he added: "The Ministry deeply regrets the erroneous impression which was given regarding the Radisson, which bears no culpability in this matter and instead appears to have suffered as result of a faulty communication process.

"The Ministry would wish to reiterate the importance which it places on according the requisite respect and courtesies to all visiting dignitaries.

"It is therefore pleased that -- notwithstanding the inconveniences associated with the arrival of the Premier -- the remainder of her stay was both productive and pleasurable.'' But last night Ms Gordon said travel arrangements were made through the Foreign Office and Government House -- and the Bermuda delegation went where they were told to. She said: "We didn't make any arrangements through Cabinet Office -- we were given the instructions through the Deputy Governor's office.'' Ms Gordon added she had written to Bahamian Foreign Minister Janet Bostwick to tell her she considered the matter closed.

Pamela Gordon