Department of Education need to work harder to ensure that qualified recipients of their scholarships are able to find work, an Opposition Senator charged yesterday.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP), speaking during the motion to adjourn in the Upper House yesterday, said he was concerned about the numbers of college-educated Bermudians who were unable to find work even though they were qualified.

He cited an example to one young person who had to work as a baggage handler until he was eventually able to find the job he was qualified for.

"(Their parents) have spent money for them to get an education but we are finding that they are under-utilised,'' he said. "It frustrates the children and the parents when this happens.'' Sen. Lister said that a parent with a college-educated son or daughter had some justified concerns at the more that 6,000 guest workers who live on the Island on work permits.

While guest workers were a necessary part of the smooth running of the economy, he said no-one could blame a parent who feels frustrated at the employment prospects for their child.

Sen. Lister said that by the end of the summer, the Upper House will be praising the ICD of the Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Education for providing scholarship money to deserving and needy young Bermudians.

But the provision of the money just "ups the ante'' because it raises a student's expectation that gainful employment will follow as long as he or she has the qualifications, he said.

Sen. Lister called on the ICD and the Department of Education to conceive a plan to assist qualified scholars to find work in their chosen fields.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott renewed his call for an office for the President of the Senate.

He said that while recent renovations were good, he hoped that new Premier Pamela Gordon would give the matter "active consideration''.

Senators, particularly those in the Opposition and Independents, needed more support because of the large volume of mail they receive.

He said secretarial or clerical assistance would be an asset and would help them to do their job with greater efficiency.

Moreover, all the chairs in the Senate chamber needed replacing before someone had a serious accident.

Government Senate Leader Gary Pitman promised to look into the entire issue of an office for the president and the replacement of the chairs.

Sen. Scott also took aim at Labour Minister Quinton Edness for incorrectly using the International Labour Organisation's convention to support his assertion that management and workers cannot be represented by the same union or the same collective agreement.

Sen. Scott said the ILO convention does not make such statements and he said he hoped Mr. Edness' upcoming visit to Geneva with local labour leaders would produce proper legislation.