Under-fire Bermuda College vice-president Donald Peters should stay on, a lecturer at the campus insisted yesterday.

And she said Dr. Peters -- at the college for two years -- had turned the college around and still had a major contribution to make.

Riquette Bonne-Smith said: "He should stay on -- the role that he has played, he is a man of vision.

"He has developed the college and put programmes -- we need time to establish these programmes.'' Mrs. Bonne-Smith -- a former full-time languages lecturer, now part-time and director of the International House of Languages -- added Dr. Peters provided a good example for young men to follow, especially in an academic world dominated by women.

She said: "I'm a feminist, but I would recognise that we're not addressing the entire community.

"We have a problem with young males and their needs are not being identified satisfactorily. We do need to create that balance in education.

"There is a great need for young men to identify with a strong male and he fills that role.'' Mrs. Bonne-Smith spoke out after a row broke out over Dr. Peters' contract, which is up for renewal.

College insiders claimed that Bermudian candidate Larita Alford -- currently working in the US -- was set to be blocked by College board chairman Randy Horton and Premier Jennifer Smith in favour of keeping Dominica-born Dr.

Peters.

And they insisted Ms Alford -- Dean of Instruction and Associate Professor of English at a college in Tennessee -- was better qualified than Dr. Peters, whose background is in student affairs.

Dr. Peters has declined to comment on the controversy.

But Mrs. Bonne-Smith said: "One should not forget that a couple of years ago, there was quite a bit of instability among the students at the college and Dr.

Peters was very successful in calming the situation, reasoning with the students and creating a better working environment.'' She added: "I think he understands that, in today's education system, we're dealing with a new generation of young people, a more vocal group of teenagers, whether they are boys or girls and they have different needs.'' Mrs. Bonne-Smith said: "The college is moving towards becoming a university.

Lecturer says College's VP finish the job "There is a lot more to be done, but it's certainly very positive at the moment.'' She stressed she was all in favour of Bermudianisation -- but that a balance had to be struck.

Mrs. Bonne-Smith also said: "We need to find a meeting point, which would make life easier and more pleasant for everybody. Everyone is so much on the defensive.

"This could become a political situation -- but we should not forget that, in Bermuda where we have a wealth of talent, we need foreign expertise and the knowledge and diversity it brings to grow.'' She added: "It's also very easy to get rid of a foreigner in Bermuda once we find a Bermudian, but we must recognise they have filled a need and been good for the community.

"It's a small village and there is no reason why we can't find that balance for the good of everyone.'' And Mrs. Bonne-Smith warned: "Education is a big umbrella -- that's where you find the future leaders and where the next generation is shaped.

"Once you find people committed to that, give them a chance to add a little more.''