critics who demanded he and president George Cook be fired from their jobs.

The ex-cricket star hit for six complaints about the running of the college by the duo and denied he was too detached from college life and lacked leadership ability.

Mr. Horton said: "Like everybody else, I feel Bermuda College is important to this community.

"We work hard in this community to ensure that opportunities are provided for our people, the young who are here and those people who need to be retrained.'' Mr. Horton was speaking minutes after a demonstration in the college's administration offices by around 40 staff and students and the presentation of a petition calling for Mr. Horton and Dr. Cook to quit. A group of staff and students claimed that the college was "in crisis'', suffering from a lack of leadership, plummeting morale and sky-high debt.

Horton hits back at critics Also among the complaints was that not enough had been done to promote Bermudians or ensure a succession plan for top jobs at the college and claimed simmering racial problems had not been dealt with.

But Mr. Horton said: "We've had quite a number of Bermudians promoted over the last year. We're certainly not here not to support Bermudians.'' He added: "There are some racial issues at the college and one of the things we're doing is carrying out a diversity programme. That's certainly something we hope can help. We have to honestly respect people based on who they are.'' Mr. Horton admitted that the college was carrying debt but said it was not $1.8 million as quoted by the demonstrators. And he pointed out that the Stonington Beach Hotel, owned and operated by the college, had been losing money "for years''.

Mr. Horton said: "It's not something which has just happened. But what we've done is control the expenses at the hotel in such a way that we're budgeting a profit in this coming year.

And he added that claims that he failed to support the college by not turning up at events was "just not true''.

Mr. Horton said he and his board were also aware that there were concerns over leadership and long term planning. He added: "The board is sensitive to these concerns. Like them, we want appropriate opportunities offered to all students and staff.'' And he said the board put together after the Progressive Labour Party took office reflected the "local and international business community, colleagues who have extensive ties with the community''.

Mr. Horton added: "We are in fact looking to carry out a management audit which will specifically address issues like the best infrastructure and reporting plans, as well as the competency of people in current positions.'' And he said professionals would also be drafted in for special staff seminars to identify strengths and weaknesses at the college and help draw up objectives for the college.

Mr. Horton added that a succession plan for senior posts at the college would be in place by the end of this year.

And he said: "The board is thinking about beginning a presidential search even though Dr. Cook could be in the post for several years.'' Mr. Horton added: "It's unfortunate that it's gotten to this. I think a lot of concerns that they had were things which were addressed in the meeting that we had last week.

"It seems to me they thought I was disrespecting them and just running off, which is just not so.

"The board is aware of the issues and we're addressing the issues. We're discussing now the issue of leadership in the college because we recognised we had to do better in that regard.'' Mr. Horton added: "I've been chairman for just over a year. That's not a long time to bring about change.

"Anybody who wants to see change, they want to see it right away.

"Maybe we are slower than we could be but it's impossible to turn all things around, things that have developed over a long period of time.'' And he put a brave face on the protest calling for he and Dr. Cook to be fired, saying, "The plus side of this is at least we know who we can talk with to find out what their deeper concerns are and listen to them for solutions.'' Dr. Cook echoed Mr. Horton and said he had no intention of quitting his job.

He added: "I report to the board. If I'm asked to submit my resignation by the board, of course I would. But that hasn't happened.'' Dr. Cook added a meeting a week ago gave students and staff the opportunity to bring up any problems but that most of the concerns listed in the petition had not been voiced then.

And he said: "These are all pretty general. It's pretty hard to respond to.''