economic think-tank.

But her decision is up in the air after surgery on her hand yesterday afternoon -- which may rule out the trip to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos.

She said last night it was now unclear whether she would be able to attend and it depended on how her condition cleared up over the next few days.

But doctors had advised her that it could be unwise to travel in an airplane for the next few days since it could cause painful throbbing and make her condition worsen.

The Forum is normally restricted to leaders of countries -- but Ms Gordon is eligible to attend as she was elected to the elite Global Leaders of Tomorrow club at last year's forum.

And that means that she can attend the conference free of the normal massive $25,000 entrance fee.

Ms Gordon said: "I'm definitely hoping to go to Davos in a couple of days, depending on the surgery.

"And if I do go, it will be in my capacity as a member of Global Leaders of Tomorrow.'' The conference, scheduled to start today, attracts hundreds of Government leaders, top businesspeople and academics.

This year's conference -- on the theme of handling the move towards a global market without trade barriers -- will include keynote speeches from Nobel Prize-winning South African president Nelson Mandela, US vice-president Al Gore and US Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Also slated to speak at the conference are Britain's Princess Anne and Canadian PM Jean Chretien.

Ms Gordon will on Saturday morning attend the post-General Election post-mortem, to be held at the UBP's Hamilton HQ, and -- if she decides to attend -- will fly out on Saturday night.

She said: "The party comes first and I will attend our meeting before I go anywhere.'' Pamela Gordon