passed over for its chairmanship, it emerged last night.

Paul Leseur resigned as deputy chairman of the Tourism Board earlier this year following 25 years service on the committee.

Yesterday he revealed that he resigned because he was passed up for the board's chairmanship, although he stressed he had not fallen out with the new chairman.

"There was a disagreement between myself and the Tourism Minister about the future chairman of the board and I felt it was time for me to resign,'' said Mr. Leseur, who runs the Lantana Hotel.

"The Minister said he could not make me chairman and I felt that after 25 years of service and with my experience I did not understand why.

"The Minister said he wanted a younger person, yet he still wanted my expertise and asked me to stay on the board.

"He also said as chairman and a hotelier I would have a conflict although I told him that I believed he had a bigger conflict,'' added Mr. Leseur.

He stressed his decision was not linked to the appointment of English Sports Shop owner David Hamshere as chairman in place of Alan Richardson.

Mr. Leseur resigned from the board and its airlines and marketing committees last month. He is replaced as the board's deputy chairman by Altimont Roberts.

Last night Tourism Minister David Dodwell, who owns The Reefs hotel, said he understood Mr. Leseur's feelings and said he was sad to see him leave the committee.

"I asked Mr. Leseur to stay. Obviously he did not and I was disappointed that he took that decision and did not stay and contribute to the board,'' said Mr.

Dodwell.