Finance Minister Eugene Cox's right hand man is set to retire, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Financial Secretary Peter Hardy -- the senior civil servant in the Ministry for six years -- is to hang up his calculator at the end of the month.

Mr. Hardy, 55 -- who joined the Finance Ministry 30 years ago as the Island's first Registrar of Companies -- said he had decided to retire because he stood to gain pension benefits if he went before reaching the age of 56.

He said: "I have a certain financial benefit I'm entitled to and I think, in my own interests, I should take it. That's the only reason I'm leaving.'' He added: "I've enjoyed working in the Finance Ministry and I've worked under every Financial Secretary there has been.'' And last night Mr. Cox paid tribute to the man who had helped him shape two Budgets. Mr. Cox said: "The only thing I can say is that Peter has been of great assistance to me.

"He has been very loyal and very informative and I'm sure we will miss him in the department.

"But, because of his age and his conditions, he has this opportunity and I wish him well for the future in whatever he chooses to do.'' Mr. Hardy has worked for a total of six Finance Ministers, from the late Sir John Sharpe in the 1970s to Mr. Cox today.

He said that he was not planning on taking it easy and hoped to find another avenue where he could use his expertise -- but was reluctant to discuss his future plans.

Mr. Hardy added: "I'm hoping to move into something which will keep my brain active.'' He said there were a host of highlights throughout his long career as the civil service hand on the Island's purse strings.

Mr. Hardy added: "My first Budget (as Financial Secretary) was 1995 and 2000 has been my last one. The 1995 one was when we were coming out of a recession and dealing with the bases transfer, which placed a very heavy demand on the Ministry of Finance to pay for a lot of work which had to be done, at the airport in particular.

"I was the first Registrar of Companies and the first Tax Commissioner and having the opportunity to set these up was a highlight.

"I've enjoyed having a good career in the Ministry and being able to achieve what I wanted to achieve.

"For example, in the Registrar's office, I was responsible for implementing the system to form companies by registration. They had always been formed by private Act of Parliament before.'' And he said dealing with recent international probes into offshore jurisdictions by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Union and the United Nations -- as well as the UK White Paper rewrite of relations with its Overseas Territories -- had been a challenge.

He added: "It really has been a tremendously interesting job -- I've enjoyed working for Government as a civil servant, but I'm now looking for renewed intellectual stimulation outside the civil service.'' Mr. Cox added that plans to replace Mr. Hardy were still at an early stage and declined to comment on likely candidates.

He said: "That's something which has to be in mind when a loyal and productive employee says this is something he's decided to do.'' There are a total of three Assistant Financial Secretaries and they could emerge as favourites in the field at a later date.

Peter Hardy BUSINESS BUC