A man who served as a Senator while also employed by Bermuda College is calling for youth worker Gina Spence Farmer to be given that same opportunity.

Dr. Leonard Santucci can see no reason why Mrs. Farmer should not be given the chance to serve her community in the political arena while keeping her day job at the college.

During a brief visit to the Island, Dr. Santucci called on the Government and the Progressive Labour Party to re-examine where they once stood on empowering ordinary people and allow the youth worker to follow her ambition to join the Senate.

In his view the 43-year-old mother-of-three should be allowed to swap her accumulated overtime hours at the college to take Wednesdays off so she can sit on the Senate.

Mrs. Farmer is seeking the right to serve on the Senate for the opposition United Bermuda Party.

Dr. Santucci, who is now pastor at the St. Paul AME Cathedral in New Jersey, said: ?I don?t think that the college, as a Government institution, should have a policy that would be perceived as violating constitutional rights and freedoms.?

He was employed by the college from 1989 until 2002 as a counsellor, admissions director and finally a training development co-ordinator.

In late 2001 he became a Senator for the opposition UBP having been given permission to do so from the college.

He resigned from the Senate last year to take up a ministry in New Jersey.

Commenting on Mrs. Farmer?s situation, he said: ?The college can?t block her serving on the Senate nor as a member of Parliament if she desires. It would violate her constitutional rights.

?The president of the college and the chairman, Raymond Tannock, who himself is a senator on behalf of the Government, should be ashamed because they are trying to deny her the fundamental rights which, for over 30 years, the PLP fought for.

?Their actions in and of themselves, demonstrate that they have forgotten from where they came and they should be ashamed.

?They also need to be aware that whilst they were the Government, I served as an opposition Senator and they know that for a fact. It is on my personal file with documentation authorising my right of service signed by the former president, Dr. Michael Orenduff.

?Further, the documentation dealing with my intent to serve in political office goes back to president Dr. George Cook.

?What the PLP has done, through the actions of the chairman and president, is demonstrate Gina Spence Farmer?s suitability and credibility as a candidate for Parliament or the Senate.

?The Government needs to be reminded that it?s there to represent the interests of the people. The PLP have gone from fighting for the oppressed to being the oppressor and I invite them to repent.?