Government was accused of attempting ?sabotage?, as the saga of a Bermuda College youth worker?s bid to become a United Bermuda Party Senator took a fresh twist yesterday.

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons said the College?s decision to block Gina Spence Farmer representing her country was ?absolutely disgraceful?.

And he called into question the actions of the Chairman of the College Board of Governors, Progressive Labour Party Senator Raymond Tannock and College President, Dr. Charles Green.

Late yesterday the College issued a statement explaining why it is not allowing Mrs. Farmer the right to take Wednesday?s off so that she can sit on the Senate.

Sen. Tannock said the updated College procedures manual from 2003 clearly states that a employee can take up a position to a Government body outside normal working hours or within working hours if their college job allows for flexible scheduling.

He went on to say that a previous instance when a College employee became a senator had been allowed because that person had moved to a position that was no longer student-centred, he added: ?The Board?s primary concern is for the services that would possibly be hindered by Mrs. Farmer?s absence from campus.?

But the decision to deny Mrs. Farmer the opportunity to combine a political career with her day job was yesterday branded ?politically motivated? by the UBP.

Refusing to rule out legal action to challenge the decision, Dr. Gibbons claimed his rivals in Government were running scared at the prospect of a new face in the Opposition.

Dr. Gibbons, speaking at a press conference, said: ?The bottom line is we can see no valid reason for the College to prevent Gina from serving her country.?

He pointed to the case of Sen. Leonard Santucci, able to sit in the Senate two years ago while working for Bermuda College.

The UBP leader also told reporters the College owed Mrs. Farmer more than 50 hours? overtime this year. She has not asked to be paid for that, Dr. Gibbons added, but the College has refused to let her take the lieu time to sit in the Senate on Wednesdays.

The Opposition leader, who believes this time would probably cover Senate sessions well into next year, said: ?Taken together, these facts would lead most sensible observers to believe that the actions of Sen. Tannock and Dr. Green are politically motivated.

?We can only conclude Sen. Tannock and the PLP recognise the great job Gina will do in the Senate and are terrified at the prospect of sitting across the Senate table from her.?

He added that, if given the green light to enter politics, Mrs. Farmer would be fighting PLP MP Dale Butler in a marginal Warwick seat at the next election.

Dr. Gibbons continued: ?Instead of supporting her in her wish to provide public service, it looks like they have attempted an act of political sabotage, and in the process are also violating her human rights.

?It?s absolutely disgraceful ? they should be looking for ways to support Gina in her desire for public service, not doing everything they can to block her.?

He described Mrs. Farmer as a great example of somebody who has made a success of life, despite coming from a humble background. He said the 43-year-old mother-of-three now wanted to give something back to the community. Mrs. Farmer, an activities co-ordinator at the College for three years, said: ?Working at the College has been a privilege and an honour. I enjoy what I do. This whole experience has been very disappointing for me.?

She said she had received support from across the Island and was now ?praying? that the College top brass would reconsider.

Asked if she would consider leaving the College job, she added: ?That?s not something I really even want to think about at this moment.?

Mrs. Farmer?s Senate application was blocked by the College about two weeks ago.

That triggered urgent talks between education officials and the UBP in a bid to get the decision reversed. But Dr. Gibbons yesterday revealed those attempts had hit a brick wall.

The Opposition leader said he and fellow UBP member Wayne Furbert met Dr. Green last week. They told Dr. Green they thought he was breaching the spirit of the public duty section of the Employment Act, allowing workers flexibility to serve in the Regiment, on juries and also as MPs and Senators.

But Dr. Gibbons said Dr. Green turned down the application because, in his view, it would violate the College?s staffing policy, in place since 2003.

However, Dr. Green confirmed he would review the decision with Sen. Tannock. Two days later Dr. Green stated there would be no change of heart.

Dr. Gibbons, a former College board member, said this stance was ?shameful?. He added: ?They are sending a terrible message about the value of public service to students.?

In a letter to The Royal Gazette, former chairman of the National Liberal Party Charles Jeffers expressed dismay at the decision and said: ?I cannot help but wonder if the same decision would have been reached if the president of Bermuda College was a Bermudian of any political persuasion. I also cannot help wonder if the decision would have been the same if the proposed Senator was a member of the Governing Party.

?There is a sense of discomfort when the Chairman of the Board at the college, who happens to be a Government Senator, opted not to publicly disassociate himself from any discussion and statement of the Board.?