Disgraced conference promoter Bonnie Marshall has at last been allowed to leave the Island -- still owing the Bermuda Industrial Union $40,000.

The Royal Gazette understands that Ms Marshall, who was responsible for organising last month's World Conference of Mayors annual convention on the Island, appeared in court last Friday and was granted permission to return home to the US.

Ms Marshal argued that she would not be able to raise the cash to pay off the union debt while still on the Island.

The BIU served a $40,000 writ on Ms Marshall the day after the conference ended on November 19. The union had loaned the cash to her company, The African American Global Trade and Tourism Council, to kick start the conference. The loan was made after Ms Marshall threatened to sue the Department of Tourism after it refused to hand over $100,000 to sponsor the event. That deal fell apart when Ms Marshall failed to come up with a detailed marketing plan.

It was later revealed that Ms Marshall had launched several lawsuits of her own in the US, claiming she was the victim of racism. But those lawsuits have since been rejected and Ms Marshall now faces her own legal battle. She is set to be prosecuted for perjury and filing false tax returns.

The lawyer representing the BIU, Kim Wilson, refused to comment on Friday's ruling.