St. Louis because of a poor take-up rate, Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell claimed.

Speaking in the House of Assembly last Friday Mr. Dodwell said: "It appears nothing has worked and the frightening news and prospect is of the flight being pulled in September. That is reliable news and it would be a shame.'' He said TWA had no office in Bermuda and that when a resident called the airline she was put through to an office in Puerto Rico and a Spanish speaker.

When she finally reached an English speaker, she knew nothing about the flight.

He said he believed the "opportunity (of building the service) may be frittering away''.

Mr. Dodwell said he understood Government had given a financial guarantee on the flight -- which he supported under certain circumstances -- but called on Tourism Minister David Allen to confirm this because public money was involved.

Mr. Allen was not in the House during Mr. Dodwell's comments, but Government MP Delaey Robinson, the chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Board, defended Government's record.

He said in 18 months, the PLP had a positive response from four carriers.

Delta and TWA had started new flights. USAir had "come to the table'' over its New York La Guardia to Bermuda route and Air Canada had responded to a request for an increased lift.

Mr. Dodwell attacked Mr. Allen's decision to allow the Crown Dynasty to provide entertainment on-board in Dockyard on a Sunday night.

The only people to benefit, apart from the ships, would be the Bermudian entertainers paid to go on-board.