Bermuda College bosses could be set to snub a Bermudian candidate for the prestige vice-president's post in favour of keeping foreigner Donald Peters.

Yesterday the move sparked a wave of protest -- with College insiders claiming Premier Jennifer Smith and Progressive Labour Party MP and college board chairman Randy Horton both backed the outsider to keep the post.

Bermudian Larita Alford -- currently Dean of Instruction and Associate Professor of English at Columbia State Community College, Tennessee -- was turned down for the vice president of Academic and Student Affairs job when Dr. Peters got it two years ago.

One college insider said: "This woman has come back again with more experience and still not got the job.'' But last night Mr. Horton insisted the complainers had jumped the gun and no decision had been made on the job.

Mr. Horton said: "No decision has been made -- we have interviewed two candidates and the selection committee is in the process of putting together an offer in regard to the job. I can't say any more than that at this stage.'' The insider said Dr. Alford also had a better background in academic work than Dr. Peters, who is originally from Dominica.

"The really interesting thing is Donald Peters came to that position not with a background as an academic dean, but student affairs -- more like counselling,'' the source said.

"She has an academic background -- the level of staff in her department is almost the size of the entire Bermuda College.

"It's going to be very difficult for them to justify their claim if he came to the job with less of a background in academic management and policy-making.'' Another College insider said: "There is a lot of disquiet in the college community regarding this and the probable denial of a job to a qualified Bermudian. The Premier is definitely being seen as a black woman keeping another black woman down.'' The insider added it was suspected the board may try to cut a deal to avoid embarrassment by creating a second vice president post and appointing Dr.

Alford.

He added it had been suggested that Dr. Alford be told to reapply in 2001, when Dr. Peters' next contract ends.

And he said the college board could even try to force out College president Dr. George Cook in a bid to create another job for Dr. Peters.

But the insider warned: "Dr. Cook is eminently qualified and he is a Bermudian. But he will reach the age of retire ment in two to three years.

Bermudian may miss out on job "There is, however, no basis on which the Government or the board can make such a request for retirement to Dr. Cook.'' The Premier did not return calls from The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Both Dr. Peters and Minister of Education Milton Scott were off the Island and unavailable for comment yesterday and Dr. Alford could not be contacted.

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said: "I can't help but feel some sense of betrayal as far as what the PLP Government said they were committed to -- and that is Bermudianisation.'' And he asked what would happen if a Bermudian candidate was told to reapply in two years' time and other local candidates came forward as well.

Mr. Smith added: "I'm not questioning the capabilities of Dr. Peters. But the question is if a Bermudian is out there, one who has demonstrated their capabilities, they should be giving that person the opportunity.'' He said he had no problems with College chiefs looking at options in fairness to qualified candidates and the current holder of the post.

But Mr. Smith insisted: "If they start treating people unfairly, as in the matter of the presidency, that's just not on.'' Dr. Donald Peters