Bermuda is offering a free holiday for 100 of the "heroes of New York" involved in the rescue operation at the World Trade Center, Tourism Minister David Allen revealed yesterday.

Mr. Allen said a letter had been sent this week to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani making the offer, but Government had decided not to publicise the matter in case it was seen as tacky and exploitative.

In response to a question yesterday about St. Kitts and Nevis offering holidays to rescue workers, Mr. Allen confirmed Bermuda will also host some of the firefighters, Police and rescue personnel.

"This is a thank you from the Government and people of Bermuda for their help in looking for the Bermudians lost in the World Trade Center.

"Other Bermudians were able to escape the area due to the assistance of fire fighters and rescue personnel. It is a thank you for helping Bermudians, but also for all the people they have been working with there.

"Between the hotels, the Government, restaurants, we are going to work with tourism so that when they do come to Bermuda, we will show them a good time.

"We did not want to appear to be exploiting a situation in New York for any publicity. It was not our intention to issue a press release because some of these things can be misconstrued as trying to get headlines out of a difficult situation," said Mr. Allen.

He said the Department of Tourism will be funding part of the holidays, but it will be a partnership with hotels contributing free rooms.