career guidance counsellors in local secondary schools, it has been claimed.

Only two secondary schools out of nine which were approached could be bothered to submit candidates for the first scholarships to be offered by the Bermuda Construction Association.

Association president Mr. David Exell, head of Atlantic Engineering, said yesterday: "There appears to be a lack of interest among guidance counsellors in pushing young people into the industry.

"We're simply not getting enough intelligent youngsters coming through who can train and eventually take up positions of responsibility in construction.

"Ultimately, the local construction industry will suffer as a result of this lack of interest on the part of careers staff.'' Mr. Exell and Association vice president Mr. Ray DeSilva, controller at Universal Electric, were dismayed at the lack of response from schools who were asked to participate in the new scholarships programme.

"It's very frustrating and disappointing not to receive cooperation when you're trying to do something positive,'' said Mr. Exell.

"The only schools to send in students' names were St. George's Secondary School and Northlands Secondary School.'' "There appears to be a stigma attached to construction that when you're in a trade you're almost a second class student. This attitude exists not just in any one school, but throughout the education system.'' Mr. DeSilva said the local construction industry was suffering from the "not the lawyer'' syndrome, meaning that many educated young Bermudians were only interested in entering the legal profession.

"Many of the skilled people in the construction industry are reaching retirement age, creating a void between those who know the industry and those just learning it.'' THE FUTURE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY -- Mr. David Exell (left), president of the Bermuda Construction Association, and his vice president Mr. Ray DeSilva (right) present the association's first college scholarships to students Mr. Giovanni Wilson (second left), of St. George's Secondary School, and Mr. Victor Peixoto, of Northlands Secondary School.