The sister of Education Minister Randy Horton yesterday told of her commitment to improve school standards and to keep family ties separate from the workplace. Ellen-Kate Horton stressed there was no conflict of interest in her appointment as Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation.

Her brother's Ministry came under fire in the Hopkins Report, a damning review of Bermuda's public education system. As Acting Permanent Secretary, Ms Horton will help to implement reforms as recommended in the report.

Ms Horton's appointment however, has resulted in feelings of mistrust among some teachers. She takes over from Alberta Dyer-Tucker, who was appointed Acting Permanent Secretary after Rosemary Tyrrell was reassigned to the Ministry of Justice in a Civil Service shake-up in May.

Yesterday, Ms Horton attempted to reassure teaching unions of her impartiality at a press conference organised by the Bermuda Public Services Union. President Armell Thomas and General Secretary Ed Ball spoke out in Ms Horton's defence, following criticism by the Bermuda Union of Teachers in a television broadcast on Friday.

Mr. Thomas said: "We are very disappointed at the BUT's response in reference to Ellen-Kate Horton being Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education. We have no jurisdiction over the permanent secretaries being moved around the civil service. But if the BUT wanted to fight the process they should have called the union and expressed their views. Then we would have spoken to Ms Horton, but instead they took it straight to the media, which was wrong.

"She has never acted as Permanent Secretary for Education before, so you're going to shoot someone down before they get the job."

He pointed out that Ms Horton had extensive experience. Her teaching career began at Warwick Secondary School (now Spice Valley) in 1971 where she eventually headed up the maths department. She has helped to formulate public education standards and was also President and General Secretary of the BUT.

Mr. Thomas said that as BUT President, Ms Horton had led the teaching strikes of 1981. The recent criticism had therefore left her "feeling personally hurt".

"Ms Horton needs the support of the BUT," said Mr. Thomas. "As Acting Permanent Secretary we're getting a good package. She's Bermudian and qualified, she's a woman and a leader, what more do we want?

"She really is committed towards improving the standards of our education system. If the BUT can't actually interpret that then something is wrong."

Referring to accusations of a conflict of interest, Mr. Thomas said: "There's checks and balances in the civil service. I'm sure they have thought this through and gone through the proper decisions."

BPSU General Secretary Mr. Ball said: "Miss Horton has worked underneath the Minister for a number of years so it's not unusual for her to be working at the same place of appointment as Mr. Randolph Horton.

"She will help to advise the Minister, and so no one can judge her.

"Ms Horton is stating to everyone that she is up to the task and is aware of the scrutiny and that she is going to be a professional, because if she fails I think we all fail."

Ms Horton said: "I'm an educator first and foremost and have served in just about every position that one can think of. I was an acting deputy principal before I moved into the Ministry of Education, where I was an education officer.

"I have a good rapport with many, many teachers. This was evidenced by the telephone calls of support I received after the television news.

"I will work to my utmost to ensure that the children of Bermuda are serviced, and whether they are serviced by Bermudian teachers or foreign teachers, it's not an issue.

"I will fulfil this role to the best of my abilities. This is not the first time I have worked very closely with the Minister but we are both professionals."

She added: "I remain optimistic with most of the teachers and look forward to working with them and ensuring that all of Bermuda's children are served. Each child deserves to be the best that they can be."

Ms Horton will be employed as Acting Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation for an initial period until December 1. The appointment will then be reviewed.

Representatives of the Bermuda Union of Teachers were off Island last night and unavailable for comment.