THE Bermuda Department of Tourism is the title sponsor of a US high school fundraiser, organised by the head of the company hoping to build a Ritz-Carlton on Par-la-Ville car park.

Theodore A. Adams III of Unified Resorts Ltd. is president of the alumni association of the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, the beneficiary of Tourism's largesse.

Sources say the Department of Tourism paid approximately $25,000 for the privilege of title sponsor for the Sleepy Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, held yesterday in Virginia.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown yesterday defended the contribution: "I don't recall the details but you should know that there are often smaller events held where the attendees include influencers, movers and shakers, and friends of Bermuda. In fact, that kind of event was an important factor in eventually winning the Grand Slam and other victories for Bermuda."

The Premier invited the Mid-Ocean News to send a representative to see how "an event that seems so remote could benefit Bermuda Tourism".

However, the donation raised questions among the United Bermuda Party as did further revelations that Mr. Adams' parent company, Unified Industries Incorporated, holds a Government contract which is speculated to involve the development of the $1-million airport master plan recently completed by US group HNTB.

"It's outrageous that Bermudian tax dollars are being used to sponsor a fundraising event for an elite private prep school in a wealthy Virginia suburb," stated Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons.

"How can this possibly be justified? Has the Department of Tourism become the Premier's private banker, where he can make withdrawals of public money to do favours for foreign friends?

"It appears to be yet another example of pay-to-play from the Premier and it just raises more questions. How often has this been done already? And what did the Premier get in return?"

It is understood that Mr. Adams was among the 160-odd attendees at the International Love Festival hosted by the Premier and his wife Wanda in February, that saw taxpayers hit with an $18,000 bill for a private jet for crooners Nickolas Ashford and Valarie Simpson.

Unified Resorts Ltd. was granted a Special Development Order to build the luxury Ritz-Carlton property last year. Although Mr. Adams is the company's sole shareholder, its web site suggests John Scudi will play a major role in the hotel's development.

A former US Navy admiral, Mr. Scudi fell into disgrace after he was found guilty at a non-judicial hearing of seven charges including illegally steering $150,000 in contracts to a mistress, violation of ethics regulations, obstruction of justice, giving false official statements, adultery, and obtaining services under false circumstances.

He was allowed to retire at a lower rank rather than face a court martial where he would have been open to a maximum sentence of 11-and-a-half years in a military prison.

As reported by the Washington Times, the case marked only the second time the Navy has filed criminal charges against an admiral since the United States Congress adopted the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1951."I'm struck by how this case involves impropriety with contractors and that means we need to pay special attention to it," Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig said of the 1998 incident.

Unified Industries Incorporated was formed by Mr. Adams' father, the late Lt. Col. Dr. Theodore A. Adams, Jr., in 1970. The company provides engineering and management services, traditionally hiring former US Army generals and Navy admirals with experience in building military bases and complexes around the world.

Aside from the Bermuda Government, its clients include the US Navy, the US Army, the US Department of Interior, the US Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the General Services Administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Amtrak.

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