A Government-commissioned report on the Bermuda College contained inaccuracies and did a "grave disservice" to the College with its conclusion that black men were being marginalised, according to College spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett.

As reported in Wednesday's Royal Gazette, Government last year commissioned retired civil servant Edwin Wilson to conduct a fact finding exercise into reasons for high turnover in the Information Services Department and related matters.

He completed his study in October and among his conclusions was that there was a widespread perception among College staff that black men were being held back professionally.

The report said that two Bermudian men had acted as Director of the Department of Science and Technology but were removed and replaced by someone "who in the estimation of everyone is the least qualified of all".

That and other incidents had staff questioning whether there was a "logical, fair rationale" for making staffing decisions, it continued.

"The staff assume and we must agree that in these circumstances it is an assumption that superior experienced and academic qualifications do not play a major role. In the above listed instance this obviously does not apply, in the estimation of staff, where black males are concerned."

The College denied, through its spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett, that anyone had been removed from the position and said that the College does not discriminate.

"The College took quite seriously perceptions that the hiring process was flawed and skewed based on `personality and race'," Mrs. James Barnett said this week via e-mail.

"It is the policy of the College, specifically the Human Resources Department, to recruit the best candidate for every position regardless of race or gender. Mr. Wilson's specific example contained some inaccuracies. Only one male has ever served in an acting capacity in the division mentioned; no one had been removed as suggested. And contrary to the Wilson Report, the statement that `superior experienced and academic credentials do not play a major role' did a grave disservice to the temporary, highly qualified administrator for that Division, who was both black and male, and to the College!"

She also revealed that the College did not agree with Mr. Wilson's recommendation that it should be completely controlled by the Ministry of Education.

And asked why the report had not been publicised, she said that that was the prerogative of the Ministry of Education which had commissioned the report.

"The College's response to the Wilson Report was made accessible to College faculty and staff at the time when the story was publicised in the electronic media."

The College plans to hold a press conference today to fully respond to Wednesday's story.

Meanwhile, public reaction to the story has been swift with a number of radio talk show callers commenting on the report's findings.

Yesterday Rolfe Commissiong, a ruling party supporter critical of Jennifer Smith's administration, said that the report's comments about the "marginalisation of black men only reflects the larger position of black men in society - especially within the higher levels of the public and private sector in international business specifically."

He added: "The role of black Bermudian men in the most booming sector of our economy is virtually non existent. And it behoves all of us to consider the mid to long term implications of that for our society."

Mr. Commissiong blamed the former Premier "advancing the agendas of very powerful white men in our society - and women" while "the issues relating to black men were virtually ignored under her."