The World Conference of Mayors will now definitely be going ahead -- after the Department of Tourism was appointed as promoters for the prestigious event.

The future of the conference had been in some doubt following a dispute between the department and event organiser Bonnie Marshall.

But yesterday it was announced that the conference is back on track after Tourism chiefs thrashed out a new agreement with World Conference of Mayors director general Johnny Ford.

The initial agreement, in which the department would provide up to $100,000 to the WCOM to pay for promoting the event has now been scrapped, with the department now responsible for promoting the conference.

The new contract means Tourism will have no further dealings with discredited event organiser Bonnie Marshall, although she will still be working on "the nuts and bolts'' of the conference with WCOM.

Last night Tourism Minister David Dodwell said he was convinced the event could now go ahead and be successful.

"I think we have done the right thing and we have always done the right thing,'' he said. "Mayor Ford had a meeting with the acting marketing director for Tourism this morning to discuss the marketing plan and to look at what the WCOM has done already.'' Mr. Dodwell confirmed the department will still make the same financial commitment of $65,000 to the project and highlighted the fact that, although $35,000 has already been paid to Ms Marshall, she had done some promotional work, a fact that Mr. Ford vigorously backed.

"Is that value for money? -- we will have to wait and see.'' Mr. Dodwell said. At a Press conference yesterday Mr. Ford, who arrived on the Island on Wednesday, said: "This morning I had a meeting with Gary Phillips, the Director of Tourism. He and I had an extended meeting.

"There has been some disagreement with Bonnie Marshall and the Government has made it very clear that as of this date she has still not submitted an acceptable plan.

"Based on this fact, the World Conference of Mayors will release the Department of Tourism from the May 19 agreement and that means that we are now available to deal with them directly. I would be honoured to deal with the Department directly and I say that because all our dealing with the Department have been honourable and professional and we have not had any negative experiences at this point.

"We have agreed with the Department of Tourism that, based on the fact that they no longer wish to deal with Ms Marshall, the Department will now assume responsibility for directing the marketing plan for this conference -- they have the expertise and the resources.

"The Department made it clear that while they want to do business with the World Conference of Mayors they are not interested in doing business and they don't want to see any money going to Bonnie Marshall.

"I want to apologise to the people of Bermuda and the Government of Bermuda for the controversy that has developed surrounding this.'' Mr. Ford went on to say that, although there had been conflict with Ms Marshall, she had still done a great deal to get the conference up and running.

"We still have a relationship with Bonnie Marshall and we will continue to work with her on other matters -- on the nuts and bolts of the conference,'' he said.

"If she comes to Bermuda it will be in the capacity of working with ourselves on the conference, for example she is booking stars. We appreciate her for the work she has done because she has done a considerable job of promoting the conference.

"I want to thank her for reintroducing me to Bermuda because I had not been here since 1983 and it was she who expressed to me and the members of the board the idea and possibility of coming back to Bermuda.

"But ours has not been the smoothest relationship either. She's a very convincing person, so nobody should feel ashamed for the fact that they undertook any agreement.'' Both Mr. Ford and Mr. Dodwell said the conference might now be on a smaller scale then first suggested by Ms Marshall.

Mayor Ford said he expected between 300 and 400 guests, including mayors, business leaders and black college heads.

"But it is quality not quantity that is important,'' he said.

Both men also said they would "vigorously contest any lawsuit that Ms Marshall might bring against either of their organisations''.

"It doesn't matter with me because we have a team of lawyers who are members of the National Bar Association so if she wants to get legal...'' Mr. Ford said.