The United Bermuda Party is calling for an independent inquiry into the selection of a new president at the Bermuda College after it emerged that members of the selection panel "did not feel comfortable" interviewing their fellow Bermudians.

However, Premier Alex Scott said Government tries "every day" to prepare Bermudians for top Government posts, and called on the Opposition and the public to "keep on us".

American Charles Green was selected for the post of college president in April with a brief to groom a Bermudian for the job within three years.

Identifying Bermudian successors will not be written into his contract, however. Bermuda College chairman Senator Raymond Tannock said media publicity would make it difficult to renege on the promise to pick a local successor.

However when it emerged the interview process for Bermudians and foreigners was different, Bermudian applicants and the UBP cried foul.

Saying the move amounted to discrimination under the Human Rights Act, Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell told MPs in the House of Assembly on Friday night that Government had "no excuse".

The selection panel for the role of president at the Bermuda College consisted of eight people. Though five interviewed the foreign applicants, two of whom had tertiary or postgraduate experience, only three - none with tertiary or postgraduate experience - interviewed the Bermudian applicants.

When Mr. Darrell asked why that was, Education Minister Terry Lister replied: "The Selection Committee for the Bermudians differed from that of the overseas applicants because the committee members did not feel comfortable interviewing their peers.

"This did not restrict the Selection Committee's opportunity to give relevant feedback on their observations of the individuals as professionals on the job."

Saying others could have been used to ensure all the applicants were interviewed by five people, Mr. Darrell said: "There is no excuse for that."

Government, he added, had "come right out and said, 'We have treated these two groups of people differently' ... Can you imagine that? Because members of that panel feel uncomfortable".

Perhaps, he added, that was why Government had foreigners in other top posts, such as the Director of Public Prosecutions, airport manager, Marine and Ports and the Prisons Commissioner.

"We are calling for an independent inquiry into the selection and recruitment process which led to the appointment of the president at the Bermuda College," Mr. Darrell said.

"Clearly this differential treatment of Bermudians cannot be tolerated.

"I've experienced discrimination .. It rubs out your identity ... You feel violated," he said. "No country apologises for wanting to hire its own people ... We shall not apologise."

The Opposition found a "sympathetic audience" in Government, Mr. Scott said.

However, he said, if Government was to ensure Bermuda is run efficiently and effectively as it does, "there are going to be occasions when someone other than a Bermudian is going to be put in a post.

"But keep on keeping on - keep on us."