The Corporation of Hamilton board, led by Mayor Graeme Outerbridge, has written to the National Conference of Black Mayors executive director Vanessa Williams requesting an account of funds paid to the United States organisation for the hosting of its 40th annual conference in Bermuda.

Casting doubt on the viability of the conference, planned for April this year, sources close to the event — which has been dogged by controversy almost since its inception — said that the Hamilton administration was seeking to ascertain how much of its payments could be reclaimed.

The same sources told The Royal Gazette that the Fairmont Southampton hotel had pulled out of a deal to accommodate the conference after finding the organisers in breach of their agreement.

Asked for confirmation, a hotel spokeswoman said the company’s policy was not to disclose any details about guests or potential guests.

Ms Williams yesterday told The Royal Gazette that the National Conference of Black Mayors would “absolutely” be meeting in Bermuda from April 12 through April 16.

Asked if the Fairmont Southampton had withdrawn from hosting the conference’s purported 300 guests, Ms Williams said the hotel was undergoing renovations that had caused a “hiccup” in bed availability.

“Our attorneys are working with Fairmont,” she said, adding that delegates would be accommodated in three or four local hotels instead.

“I’m very excited about it — it will be a really positive breath of fresh air,” Ms Williams said, adding that leaders, community activists and civil rights figures would be among guests to the Island.