Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD's) tax haven hitlist, but the Bahamas takes the view there's no room for complacency, or mincing words.

Hester can reveal a team of big shots from the Bahamas last week went on a mission to London to fight plans to isolate so-called "rogue'' offshore centres for dirty money.

And being an independent offshore centre, the Bahamas apparently had no qualms about offending a colonial power. Bahamas Financial Services Board head Barry Malcolm suggested in the UK press that the OECD -- "a rich men's club'' -- was practicing "a new form of colonialism'' by trying to impose on them its members' tax structures.

The team met with business and political figures in major cities across Britain to makes it case -- that its sovereignty is not up for negotiation! Mr. Malcolm also quite cleverly pointed out that the Bahamas' tax structure pre-dates independence from Britain 26 years ago, and cannot possibly be deemed to have been set up deliberately to attract funds escaping taxation in the west. So take that! Not long after a cheeky bid to get Government Ministers champagne-style first class travel with routine free upgrades on basic tickets -- courtesy of the airlines who serve Bermuda, Hester now hears, there's a move by some Ministers to take over a nice room in the US departures area as the Government's own personal lounge.

Hester's told jet-setting Ministers like the idea of a private oasis away from the, er, common folk, to park themselves, and perhaps have one or two, or three, rum `n ales to soothe their pre-flight nerves.

Speaking of jet-setting, Bermudians have apparently taken to heart local courier firm IBC's ZIPX zippy promotion that there's no need to waste their money on a plane ticket to go shopping this Christmas. Not only has IBC had to hire extra people to handle the rush of applications to sign up for IBC's American address/forwarding service, but in just one week hundreds of locals have logged on to its bermudashoppingvillage.com virtual mall, where one can select everything from Victoria's Secret lingerie to Crate & Barrel cutlery to a new kitchen sink from Sears and have it delivered from cyberspace to their doorstep. At last check nearly 1,500 locals had logged on to go shopping at the website! Even Hester herself has done a spot of shopping at the e-mall, and she thinks she'll stick to e-shopping after hearing of her ace girl's recent luggage nightmare.

She's heard of lost luggage, but this is going a bit far. Apparently a certain flight from the US was so full last week with returning shoppaholics' extra suitcases and boxes of clothing, toys, appliances and home furnishings, that there ended up not being enough room for everyone's luggage.

A dozen passengers from the flight -- most of whom were well within their baggage allowance -- arrived in Bermuda only to be told their luggage would be coming in the next day because it could not fit on the plane! Let the criticism of David Allen's travelling "bermudiful'' roadshow stop here and now, as Hester can reveal possibly the best -- and only good -- news for Island tourism in decades.

All the lavish entertaining, including a top notch reception at the plush Salle Josephine, in France recently has paid instant dividends -- though not of the kind envisaged by Tourism Minister Allen.

We can exclusively reveal that the Bermuda booth at the World Travel Congress won the "best in show'' -- the travel trade event equivalent of Crufts' top dog.

Apparently the Bermuda stand, in top slot next to their French hosts, featured a replica Island cottage and moongates, all of which impressed the judges.

It cannot be confirmed whether the free rum swizzles being dolled out by tourism staff swayed the pens of the judges in any way, shape or form.

Playing footsie: Hester couldn't help but notice Bermuda's smartly dressed leading ladies donned precariously high heels for Remembrance Day. (and, while standing next to each other, they didn't utter more than a word to each other throughout the lengthy ceremony, let alone glance each other's way. Opposition Leader Pam Gordon opted for vampy three-inch-plus heels, but it was Premier Jennifer Smith's towering pair of stilettos that tripped her up in the end.

The sombre crowed whispered a collective "ooh'' when Mrs. Smith fell right out of her blue shoe as she stepped back from laying a wreath at the Cenotaph, and then briefly struggled to slip it back on. Men have it so easy!