The top Bermuda College staffer accused of racism in a row over an administrative shake-up yesterday branded the allegations as "ludicrous''.

Chief financial officer Barbara Green spoke out after controversial college vice-president Donald Peters accused her of racial motives in her proposals for a new management structure at the college.

Ms Green told The Royal Gazette : "I don't know where he gets that -- if anyone wanted to investigate my personal and professional life from Texas to California to Philadelphia, I have nothing to hide. Given my cultural background -- in California we're a great big salad bowl -- what you get when you have a very diverse working group, you have a much better solution to problems than if you have a narrow outlook.

She added: "As a woman of my age, I've received my own share of discrimination and bashed my head on the glass ceiling a number of times.'' Now the row is set to embroil College president Dr. George Cook and the board of directors.

Ms Green said: "Aside from ludicrous, I've already talked with the deputy chairman of the board of governors and she will be meeting with the president -- who is unaware of this and off the Island.'' Ms Green, who has worked at the College a year added: "I have every faith and confidence that the board will do the right thing -- whatever that is.'' She added: "I will just go on about my business -- to me, other people's problems are not my problems. If people have problems with age, with race, with gender, it's their problem and it doesn'r reflect on me as an individual.'' The top college accountant's statements were in contrast to the silence of Dr.

Peters -- who hid behind a college spokeswoman to say he would not comment.

And Ms Green was backed by college insiders -- who dismissed Dr. Peters' allegations as "totally without foundation''.

One insider -- a black staffer -- said: "Barbara Green is held in high esteem for her professionalism.

"And the last thing we would accuse her of is racism -- this is totally cruel and unfair.

"She is softly-spoken and co-operative -- a team player. But there are a lot of people in the college community who are seriously questioning Dr. Peters.'' The row broke out over a confidential discussion paper submitted by Ms Green on college re-organisation. Dr. Peters and others were also asked to submit their proposals for consideration.

Ms Green suggested a VP's title for her current role and taking over responsibility for security, admissions and registration.

Her suggestions would remove some responsibilities from Dr. Peters' current job of VP Academic and Student Affairs -- and giving the Dean of Student Services responsibility for admissions and student records.

Ms Green's memo said: "This leaves the Academic Division concentrating on the educational programmes of the university/college.

"Given the enormous challenges inherent in designing and implementing four-year academic programmes from scratch, the executive vice-president would be better positioned to focus his/her efforts in a more concentrated manner on the potentially explosive growth of the academy.'' She added yesterday: "We've all submitted a proposed reorganisation chart for consideration -- mine is the only one which has been paraded about.

"It was given to that group for discussion purposes -- there's nothing concrete.

"If the board decides to keep student affairs in the academic arena, so be it. I just like flatter organisations with more interaction between the groups.'' The proposal, however, provoked a memo from Dr. Peters, enclosing Ms Green's confidential memo to some members of the college staff.

And he accused her "and her cohorts'' of still believing that "they are superior'' to black people.

College CFO Barbara Green DISCRIMINATION DIS