upcoming conference will not be scrapped.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen sounded the alarm after receiving word that "obstacles'' threatened the upcoming the World Conference of Mayors.

"It has come to our attention that the proposed World Conference of Mayors planned for Bermuda in November has encountered a number of problems, to the extent that these are currently threatening the successful convening of this important conference in Bermuda,'' he said.

In March it was announced that Bermuda would play host to some of the US's most powerful mayors this autumn.

The annual World Conference of Mayors is scheduled to take place in Bermuda from November 14 to 19 and it is estimated that anywhere from 850 to 1,500 people could fly in for the event.

The annual Conference has been held outside the US since 1985 in locations including Tokyo, Paris, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Yesterday, Mr. Allen expressed his concern that the conference may not get off the ground due to lack of communication and various other obstacles.

"We have now learned of mounting concerns on the part of conference organisers regarding lack of continual communication about conference arrangements and the alleged placing of an increasing number of obstacles in the path of organising a successful Conference, especially in view of the short lead time available for such an important meeting -- now down to six months.'' He also revealed that the Department of Tourism did not send representatives to a New Orleans' Mayors Conference to promote the upcoming convention.

"Instead, a group of Afro-Bermudian business persons have had to take it on themselves to fill the void,'' Mr. Allen said.

The Department of Tourism announced in March that it will spend at least $100,000 on the event.

"We recognise that the Department of Tourism and other participants in the Conference have their own established criteria to meet when performing duties,'' Mr. Allen conceded. "However we would not wish to see unnecessary stumbling blocks put in the way of ensuring a successful conclusion to Conference arrangements.'' And he warned that Bermuda should not be perceived as treating the Mayors -- many of whom are black Americans -- any different than other major visiting groups.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell was unavailable for comment yesterday.