The Bermuda Post Office will conduct an ongoing review of its operations aimed at making it a profitable entity, new Postmaster General George Outerbridge said yesterday.

Mr. Outerbridge said a general meeting of all staff last week was successful and focus groups of different members would now be meeting to discuss ways of running the Island's post offices more efficiently.

"Staff will be cross-trained so that they can see how what they do affects other departments," said Mr. Outerbridge."My aim and the aim of the meeting was also to make the Post Office into a profit making entity.

The Post Office lost $2.8 million last year as it spent $10.59 million and took in revenue of $7.77 million. This year it is projected to lose $2.9 million as expenses continue to grow faster than revenues.

Mr. Outerbridge 94 percent of the 218 staff came to the meeting and showed a real interest in the Post Office's future.

Mr. Outerbridge said the staffed aired their concerns from dogs on the loose to more effective ways of delivering mail.

He said they were setting up focus groups, which would help the Post Office to become more competitive and work more efficiently.

"This was the first general meeting in the Post Office's history and some of the staff's concerns were valid.

"I do not believe that we need to have an outside consultant come in and tell us how to run the Post Office, as we have a combination of hundreds of years of experience in our staff.

"The comprehensive review will be an ongoing concern and staff will be involved every step of the way."

Now staff are coming in every day to see him to discuss ideas.

Mr. Outerbridge did not say what they had planned to do, but did say he and a senior Post Office worker would be travelling to a Post Office conference next week, to see what other Post Offices are doing around the world.