within a hospitality training programme of national importance.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism and members of the National Training Board (NTB) will get together to discuss a number of issues which were raised by an overseas consultant.

At the recent national tourism conference, Bill Freeman, of the Freeman Group, publicly set out the problems facing hospitality training on the Island.

His company was contracted to carry out hospitality training and help set up a scheme with recognised standards which could be carried on by Bermudians.

But Mr. Freeman said the programme was two years behind schedule, had not identified Bermudians to take it over and it was not clear who was going to pay for the work.

During the tourism event at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, he said: "The National Training Board, college and industry need to get their act together.'' Yesterday, PLP MP Ottiwell Simmons said a meeting of the NTB held last week had raised the issues highlighted in the report.

Mr. Simmons, who was not at the tourism conference, said: "In light of some of the comments stated in the paper, we are meeting with representatives of tourism to see exactly what the problems are and to look at them.'' When asked if a member of the college would be at the meeting, he said: "College and the board work very much together on these matters. We don't have to meet with them as they have a representative on the board.'' Mr. Freeman said his Bermuda Service Strategy Plan had been a partial success but needed direction to go forward and called upon the different entities to identify a body to take it forward.