A lab manager post for Bermuda's new adult stem cell clinic is being advertised through an overseas website.

The post — placed by California-based Stemedica on Jobpostcanada.com — does not appear to have been advertised in Bermuda first, meaning any resulting appointment would break strict work permit rules laid out by Government.

The Department of Immigration's website states: "Generally, where a work permit, including a periodic work permit, is being applied for, the job must be advertised three times in one or more of the local newspapers. On at least one of those three occasions, the advertisement must appear in the daily newspaper."

However, a search of Royal Gazette records since August showed no adverts have been placed by Stemedica for any position.

A search of the Internet, including the Bermuda Sun website, also showed no records of Stemedica adverts in Bermuda — although a website in the UK seems to have advertised the position at one stage.

A web search using the words "Stemedica, job, smith's, Bermuda" leads to an advert by Stemedica for a laboratory manager in Smith's, Bermuda, on reed.co.uk. However, clicking on the link produces the message: "This job is no longer available on reed.co.uk."

Shadow Immigration Minister Trevor Moniz last night accused Stemedica — which is partnering Premier Ewart Brown and wife Wanda for the Brown-Darrell Clinic at Winterhaven, Smith's — of ignoring regulations which ensure Bermudians come first for job opportunities.

Mr. Moniz said: "The practice and policy in Bermuda is to make sure employers look for Bermudians to fill jobs first, before going overseas.

"This is done to ensure that Bermudians come first in their own country. That practice does not appear to be happening with Stemedica and it touches on a serious concern about the current leadership of Bermuda — that there is one set of rules for the Brown elite and one set of rules for everybody else.

"We think the Premier should explain what is going on."

The Jobpostcanada.com advert, posted on November 6, states that the position begins on or before December 1. Usually, it is expected to take anything between three weeks and a few months for a temporary work permit application to be processed.

Two months ago, the Premier highlighted Government's proposed "Sven and Johnny" Goodwill Plus initiative which, he said, meant non-Bermudians (such as Sven from Sweden) would only get work permits if their companies were committed to training unqualified Bermudians (Johnny) to replace them within a few years.

Yesterday, the Department of Immigration, Stemedica and the Brown-Darrell Clinic all failed to respond to questions asking:

• whether the Stemedica job had been advertised locally and, if not, why not;

• how Stemedica could expect a work permit to be granted so quickly the successful applicant can start work on or before December 1;

• whether the Stemedica appointment would be expected to make way for a newly trained non-Bermudian within a few years under the Sven and Johnny scheme.

The Jobpostcanada.com advert describes the Brown-Darrell Clinic, which is not due to open until the New Year, as a "world class research facility", and refers to Stemedica as an "emerging" specialty biopharmaceutical company which develops and manufactures best-in-class adult stem cell products.

It says responsibilities of the lab manager include managing the import of adult stem cells and other medically-oriented supplies from multiple international locations.

Yesterday, the Brown-Darrell Clinic did not respond to questions asking where the stem cells would be imported from, or what is meant by "medically-oriented supplies".

In recent weeks, international doctors have commented about Bermuda's lack of stem cell legislations, with leading US stem cell scientist George Daley saying he was very sceptical of anyone running experimental treatment in jurisdictions where there is no regulatory oversight.

The Brown-Darrell Clinic has said it would welcome and encourage legislation consistent with the international protocol practised by countries engaged in stem cell research.

Yesterday, the clinic did not respond to a question asking whether it would delay the opening of the clinic until such regulations are in place.

Health Minister Michael Scott yesterday spoke to this newspaper about the Brown-Darrell Clinic for the first time.

Mr. Scott said the Ministry is "presently considering relevant legislation to cover all healthcare professionals and providers which will conform with international best practice".

The Minister said he did not think the thought the project needed to be put on hold until such legislation is in place.

He added that Brown-Darrell has stated all research and treatment functions at the clinic will incorporate the best regulatory and ethics practices of the World Health Organization and Declaration of Helsinki, and that doctors working there will be under the auspices of Bermuda Medical Council.

He denied that there was a conflict of interest in that the Premier, who has a hands-on role within the Ministry of Health, would be in a strong position to push through new legislation which would benefit his own private business.