Transport Control Department licensing examiners are up in arms over comments from the Transport Minister about "nit-picking'' during vehicle tests.

And their union, the Bermuda Public Service Association, has responded with general secretary Ed Ball Jr. saying Dr. Ewart Brown has come close to "crossing the line'' separating Ministerial responsibilities and those of senior civil servants who are responsible for discipline.

On Wednesday Dr. Brown said examiners would have to stick to guidelines on what can pass or fail a vehicle or heads would roll.

He said "feedback'' from the public had prompted his getting the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Herman Tucker, to investigate fickle examinations.

Last night Mr. Ball said the civil service had rules under which disciplinary procedures could be taken and all examinations were conducted under the relevant Acts, such as the Motor Car Act of 1951.

"Under the Motor Car Act, cars are to be examined and it deals with appearance, paint work, colour, upholstery and other particulars deemed necessary to be fit for a licence,'' Mr. Ball said.

"Presently examiners have been charged with putting in place new policies for car examinations and the like,'' he continued.

Mr. Ball said it was "premature'' for Dr. Brown to "give the appearance that TCD is not sensitive'' to public concerns about examination procedures.

He added: "My expectation is that the Permanent Secretary and the Director, Donald Dane, will meet with the examiners and formally put all this in writing and give them an opportunity to read the complaints.'' Mr. Ball added: "That meeting has to take place and let's get on with servicing the public rather than using other means that don't address the problem.'' Explaining the separate roles of the Minister and the senior civil servants, Mr. Ball said the Permanent Secretary and the Director were responsible for implementing policy under the direction of the Minister.

Meanwhile, discipline and other administrative measures were the purview of the civil servants not the Minister, he continued.

"Oh, yes, they're very angry, disillusioned even,'' he said, referring to the examiners.

"There is a fine line beginning with respect to Ministers getting involved in matters of the civil service versus their responsibility to the public.'' Mr. Ball added: "We're not saying that the public doesn't have a right to voice their concerns but there is a correct way of doing things. I would like to see Ministers be proactive rather than being reactive.''