The credentials of a promoter at the centre of a legal row with the Department of Tourism have been thrown into question following a Royal Gazette investigation.

And the head of the organisation which originally hired Bonnie Marshall to promote this year's World Conference of Mayors has implied he now regrets taking her on board.

Ms Marshall and her company have threatened the Department of Tourism with legal action for breach of contract, suggesting that Government staff may be racist. Tourism chiefs have refused to pay up $65,000 in sponsorship for the World Conference of Mayors until Ms Marshall comes up with a detailed marketing plan -- something that she has so far failed to do.

But The Royal Gazette can reveal that Ms Marshall has had several legal run-ins with organisations in the past.

And one attorney also questioned her business claims, saying that none of her impressive credentials had checked out.

In 1985, five Dallas banks were ordered not to disburse any money from Ms Marshall's accounts after she was accused of promoting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Parade without the permission of King's family.

A lawsuit filed by the Dallas attorney general also said that Ms Marshall had also used the name of famous people such as singer Stevie Wonder without permission.

"The parade is nothing more than an artifice by which Ms Marshall is taking in money to line her own pockets,'' the lawsuit said. "From her past actions it is clear that Ms Marshall will leave parade supporters disappointed and parade suppliers unpaid.'' In another lawsuit just last year Ms Marshall filed for $300,000 damages against her landlord claiming racial harassment and breach of certain promises. Ms Marshall's lawyer has since pulled out of the case.

But the lawyer representing Ms Marshall's landlord said his own research revealed that she completely fabricated evidence in the case. And he suggested that further criminal proceedings could be made against Ms Marshall once the lawsuit is officially thrown out.

"The protective order in the lawsuit she filed precludes me from sharing details about Ms Marshall's business dealings but once that protective order is dropped we will be going to the US Attorney's office,'' lawyer Larry Schumaker said.

"We think there are some things that warrant investigation.

"Our position in the case is that she fabricated evidence and was not forthcoming in giving truthful information. There's a whole variety of things in her background that just don't add up. We would be extra cautious in getting into any business dealings with her or giving her any money. She does her thing and when people start asking questions or pursuing answers or even more formal proceedings she has a way of ducking out of them.'' Ms Marshall claims to have worked for several world renowned organisations, including Walt Disney, and Warner Bros.

She says that stars such as Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover have attended events organised by her.

And she also says that Hillary Clinton asked her to help book celebrities for the US President's 50th birthday celebrations.

But when contacted by The Royal Gazette , a White House spokesman was unable to confirm whether Ms Marshall had worked for the President.

"We haven't been able to locate her name but we'll get back to you if we do,'' the spokesman said.

Mr. Schumaker's warnings were also echoed by World Conference of Mayors founder Johnny Ford.

Mayor Ford dismissed Ms Marshall's accusations of racism made against Solicitor General William Pearce, saying: "Tourism director Gary Phillips, Tourism Minister David Dodwell and Solicitor General William Pearce are all professional and honourable men who we have enjoyed working with''.

And he implied that, when it comes to next year's conference, far more consideration will be given before an organiser is hired.

"I don't want to criticise anyone in public but the difficulties really are in Ms Marshall's court,'' Mayor Ford said diplomatically.

"If she wants the Government's money she should simply do as they ask -- come up with the marketing plan.

When confronted with the allegations last night Ms Marshall said they proved that the Government was deliberately out to discredit her character.

She insisted that this newspaper had been spoon fed the allegations by Tourism director Gary Phillips, who she claimed, had filed a dossier of damning evidence against her name.

"I've seen the file, I saw it in Derrick Burgess's office,'' Ms Marshall said.

"There was an illegal investigation conducted by the department - they spent $60,000 on this investigation.

"Go on, print it all, I want you to get everything out, even the smallest thing about this background. Then, when people come to Bermuda to do business they will know they are going to be subjected to a private investigation.'' Mr. Burgess, head of the BIU, last night said he knew nothing of any file on Ms Marshall.

Ms Marshall went on to say she would definitely be pursuing her legal action against the Government. But her lawyer, Philip Perinchief, is currently off the Island and could not be contacted to comment on the latest developments.

But Tourism director Gary Phillips confirmed that the department was no longer prepared to do business with Ms Marshall.

And he once again emphasised that he still had not received the necessary detailed marketing plan from Ms Marshall, even though she has been on the Island for the last five days.

"Bonnie Marshall called my office after 5 p.m. last night asking if she could use our machines to run off some documentation that she wanted to leave with us. I said no, it was after five and the department doors were closed. "She did say that she would have the plan presented to us at 9 o'clock this morning. She did come over this morning but refused to leave the plan without having a meeting with me. I was already in another meeting and so I still haven't seen the plan.

"But I have to tell you that our position at the moment is that, as a result of these last two days and the pattern of total unreliability in not being able to produce what's required in a timely fashion so that we can move forward I have now written to the World Conference of Mayors informing them that I have no intention of negotiating further with Ms Marshall.

"We have a contract with the World Conference of Mayors and we are as committed as we have always been to honouring that contract. From this day forward we will be right there working to ensure that this conference takes place.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell summed up the department's position.

"For four months Ms Marshall has been saying that she will produce this plan but we have had nothing but excuses,'' he said.

"Government has reached the end of its limit. We have been tolerant and patient but enough is enough.'' Questions over promoter of Mayors Conference She says that stars such as Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover have attended events organised by her.

And she also says that Hillary Clinton asked her to help book celebrities for the US President's 50th birthday celebrations.

But when contacted by The Royal Gazette , a White House spokesman was unable to confirm whether Ms Marshall had worked for the President.

"We haven't been able to locate her name but we'll get back to you if we do,'' the spokesman said.

Mr. Schumaker's warnings were also echoed by World Conference of Mayors founder Johnny Ford.

Mayor Ford dismissed Ms Marshall's accusations of racism made against Solicitor General William Pearce, saying: "Tourism director Gary Phillips, Tourism Minister David Dodwell and Solicitor General William Pearce are all professional and honourable men who we have enjoyed working with''.

And he implied that, when it comes to next year's conference, far more consideration will be given before an organiser is hired.

"I don't want to criticise anyone in public but the difficulties really are in Ms Marshall's court,'' Mayor Ford said diplomatically.

"If she wants the Government's money she should simply do as they ask -- come up with the marketing plan.

When confronted with the allegations last night Ms Marshall said they proved that the Government was deliberately out to discredit her character.

She insisted that this newspaper had been spoon fed the allegations by Tourism director Gary Phillips, who she claimed, had filed a dossier of damning evidence against her name.

"I've seen the file, I saw it in Derrick Burgess's office,'' Ms Marshall said.

"There was an illegal investigation conducted by the department - they spent $60,000 on this investigation.

"Go on, print it all, I want you to get everything out, even the smallest thing about this background. Then, when people come to Bermuda to do business they will know they are going to be subjected to a private investigation.'' Mr. Burgess, head of the BIU, last night said he knew nothing of any file on Ms Marshall.

Ms Marshall went on to say she would definitely be pursuing her legal action against the Government. But her lawyer, Phil Perinchief, is currently off the Island and could not be contacted to comment on the latest developments.

But Tourism director Gary Phillips confirmed that the department was no longer prepared to do business with Ms Marshall.

And he once again emphasised that he still had not received the necessary detailed marketing plan from Ms Marshall, even though she has been on the Island for the last five days.

"Bonnie Marshall called my office after 5 p.m. last night asking if she could use our machines to run off some documentation that she wanted to leave with us. I said no, it was after five and the department doors were closed. "She did say that she would have the plan presented to us at 9 o'clock this morning. She did come over this morning but refused to leave the plan without having a meeting with me. I was already in another meeting and so I still haven't seen the plan.

"But I have to tell you that our position at the moment is that, as a result of these last two days and the pattern of total unreliability in not being able to produce what's required in a timely fashion so that we can move forward I have now written to the World Conference of Mayors informing them that I have no intention of negotiating further with Ms Marshall.

"We have a contract with the World Conference of Mayors and we are as committed as we have always been to honouring that contract. From this day forward we will be right there working to ensure that this conference takes place.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell summed up the department's position.

"For four months Ms Marshall has been saying that she will produce this plan but we have had nothing but excuses,'' he said.

"Government has reached the end of its limit. We have been tolerant and patient but enough is enough.''