A tournament worker has slammed the organisers of XL Capital Bermuda Open Tennis Tournament at Coral Beach over several acts which she claims were open racism.

Her story was backed up by another worker at the tournament who said blacks were constantly under suspicion.

But the club have vehemently denied the allegations. On Friday a woman, who has asked to have her name withheld, told The Royal Gazette of several incidents at the club. Below we print the allegations and the response of Coral Beach General Manager Glenn Shorto: a black tennis official is accused of stealing a bottle of water from the food tent and is accosted by a white staff member who refused to apologise even after it was confirmed the water came from the officials' tent.

Response: "A line judge had a warm bottle of Evian. He went to the food chalet to exchange it for a cold bottle. But he was only seen taking the cold one away.'' Mr. Shorto said the situation had been resolved between the pair.

black tennis officials are constantly asked to show their passes when entering restricted areas while white umpires are allowed through without question.

Response: "Everybody here is checked.'' a black person told to use the portaloo and not the clubhouse toilet because they supposedly they do not have a box seat.

Response: "That's correct.'' Mr. Shorto explained there were three sections -- the sponsors had the main bar and restaurant, the club members had a separate section while a third section was for the general public. But he said there was no colour bar. "It's not a question of you can't use the loo because you are whatever.'' a black person told not to park in a certain area but minutes later a white person is allowed to park there.

Response: "We have three different sections for parking, volunteers, VIPs and box holders. There is no discrimination here at all. This is getting out of hand.'' black school children are refused entrance into the top gates while white school children have free run of the grounds.

Response: Ball kid organiser Disa Manders said all the island's schools had been invited, through the Press, to attend the event. She said: "I brought in 70 kids from Warwick Academy, there was a huge mix, black, white everybody.'' But the tournament worker said: "You would just have to come to the match yourself to feel the tension. I attended with hope but I am leaving feeling like once again there is something wrong with being black. "I have been made to feel that despite all my hard work and honesty I am still inferior to this white race. There have been hundreds of blacks, adults and kids who play tennis but they have not supported this only professional tournament and only provide a sprinkle in the crowd when another black player is playing. Why? Because, like me next year, I will refuse to lower my standards and self esteem to once again give these folks and the organiser a chance to belittle me. I truly believe in its present state this tournament does not help tennis in Bermuda though we did have a Bermuda entry in a white boy. Many black tennis players have deserved that chance but were refused as they waited for the right white boy from a special family to come along.

"I believe that, rather than provide an avenue for all people to enjoy tennis as it is claimed, this event has become just another party for the rich whites to enjoy, make contacts and confirm their places above the rest of us.'' The allegations were an echo of those made in 1995 when a black line judge dropped out of the tournament after claiming she was barred from the beach while white line judges were allowed through.

Another Tournament worker said: "Most definitely, there's so much racism.

They treat the black workers like sh*t, but the whites are treated nicely. I see a whole lot of racism. If you are white you can just walk through, if you are black it's let me see your ticket for your seats.'' Tournament worker's racism claims Tennis fan Michael Charles, also General Secretary of the National Teachers Union, said: "My wife had tickets all week but I refused to go. I just don't like the policies and the history of the club. I only go when I have to -- my son used to be a ball boy and I might have to wait for him.'' Mr. Shorto denied Coral Beach was an exclusive white club. He said: "A certain small percentage of people seem to think so. We have many black members who are perfectly comfortable who don't seem to encounter the problems we have when we're open to the public. It was announced one year when someone was treated differently. We have been very mindful of that fact for years after. We try and bend over backwards to make sure we don't do anything insensitive to anybody.'' Asked how, Mr. Shorto said: "We make sure we treat everybody the same.''