A fast ferry pilot sacked after being found to be over the legal alcohol limit while behind the ship’s wheel has been offered a job back in Marine and Ports, the Premier announced today.

But the Premier denied he had backed down from an earlier stance after the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) threatened to bring public transport to a grinding halt in a dispute over the future of Dwayne Pearman.

This afternoon the Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, said: “Earlier today the Ministry of Tourism and Transport placed an offer on the table regarding the recently terminated ferry pilot.

“The Department of Marine and Ports is offering former ferry pilot Dwayne Pearman another post with the department. In this new post he would serve as a Seaman.”

When asked if he had backed down to the union’s demands that Mr. Pearman, who was arrested after crashing a ferry while drunk, be given another job in Marine and Ports the Premier said ‘no’.

“This offer was always a consideration,” he said.

The offer requires Mr. Pearman to attend the Employee Assistance Program. If he accepts it he will no longer pilot ferries, but will assist with the docking.

Dr. Brown added: “It is crucial that Mr. Pearman rebuild the trust of his employer after what amounted to gross misconduct and bad judgment on the job.”

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) President Chris Furbert said he has not seen the offer yet so could not comment.

The dispute began last week when the BIU demanded Government reinstated Mr. Pearman — who pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to drunk driving a fast ferry — or face the possibility of a walkout.

Last Friday, Marine and Ports Services’ workers held a meeting at 8 a.m. disrupting commuters and instituted a ban on overtime, which Government called a work to rule.

Yesterday, Mr. Furbert gave Government two more days, until 5 p.m. tomorrow to reinstate Pearman or said all public transportation could come to a halt Thursday morning at 8 a.m. when the general membership would call a meeting regardless of arbitration.

In a statement yesterday, Dr. Brown said: “We have a zero tolerance for endangering the well-being of our passengers because anything less would rattle the public’s confidence in our commitment to public safety. Safety must not be compromised.”

Full story and reaction in tomorrow's Royal Gazette.