from UK Dependent Territories which starts tomorrow.

And a solid blue line of Bermuda Police officers will provide maximum security for the two-day event at the Hamilton Princess, hosted by Premier Pamela Gordon and involving Government chiefs from four Caribbean British territories.

Police were yesterday staying tightlipped over plans for conference security for operational reasons.

But it is understood that the force's Special Branch has organised a massive deployment of officers -- some of them armed.

A Police spokeswoman said: "There have been meetings and security is being provided for guests from the Dependent Territories.'' Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness confirmed Government had discussed security with the Police.

He said: "There will be adequate security to look after these Chief Ministers. We have a responsibility to take care of them.

"The likelihood of anything happening is very small -- but if one is going to err, you have to err on the safe side. And we are doing everything we can to make sure nothing does happen.'' Government heads from four of the five Caribbean UK Dependent Territories will attend two days of summit talks in the run up to a meeting of all the British colonies in London next month and a promised new deal for the British Labour Government.

Caribbean leaders to arrive today Chief Ministers, Ministers and top civil servants from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat. and the Turks and Caicos will attend, plus their entourages -- around a dozen delegates -- will arrive in Bermuda tonight.

The Chief Minister of the Caymans will be unable to attend because of negotiations over air links at home.

But the Caymanian government will send a written submission on its views on the review of relations between the UK and its Dependent Territories launched last year by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

The mini-meeting -- the brainchild of Ms Gordon -- is designed to send the colonies with most in common to London with a united front.

Discussion will centre around the three topics thrown up by the British Government -- citizenship, Constitutional status and a change of name from Dependent Territories to something less patronising like Overseas Territories.

But Ms Gordon said the UK parameters were just a starting point and issues like international business, white collar crime and money laundering were also expected to come up.

Attending from the BVI Chief Minister Ralph O'Neal, Attorney General Dancia Penn, Minister of Health Education and Welfare Eileene Parsons and Chief Minister's Office Acting Permanent Secretary Bennett Smith.

Anguilla will be represented by Chief Minister Hubert Hughes, while Turks and Caicos Minister of Tourism and Communications Oswald O. Skippings will act for his government.

Volcano-stricken Montserrat is sending Chief Minister David Brandt, Financial Secretary C.T. John, Agriculture, Lands and Environment Minister P.A. Bramble, and former Chief Minister's Secretary, Mr. K.A. Cassell. Mr. Brandt will also be accompanied by his wife.

All the delegates will attend a reception hosted by Governor Thorold Masefield at Government House on Thursday.

The VIPs will also attend a glittering gala dinner at the Southampton Princess as a finale to the conference on Friday night before leaving on Saturday.