The bosses of outspoken Government backbencher Dale Butler have said they want to publicly distance themselves from his derogatory comments about the looks and hygiene of European women.

The directors of the Little Venice Group of restaurants, which employs a number of European staff around the Island, said they had engaged in full and frank talks with Mr. Butler, who has worked for the company for more than two years as its director of training.

Mr. Butler caused a stink after claiming in Parliament that women from Europe were "plain" and did not wear deodorant before coming to Bermuda to live.

During the outburst, which led to numerous complaints from both locals and foreign workers, he said European women only began to look good after being on the Island for a few months.

He said before arriving in Bermuda they did not bathe as often, and did not wear make-up. Despite immediately afterwards claiming that his comments, made during the debate on the future of long term residents on the Island, were not offensive or disrespectful, he has since apologised.

And yesterday, his bosses wanted to set the record straight.

The Royal Gazette understands that staff at the restaurants were upset by his comments, but Mr. Butler has since visited each of them and apologised.

In a joint statement from directors Emilio Barbieri, Gioacchino Di Meglio and Teresa Chatfield, they said: "We have had honest and straightforward discussions with Dale Butler, our director of training, since the publication of comments made during the debate in Parliament on Friday.

"Dale has been a valuable part of our management team for two-and-a-half years and has worked closely with both our Bermudian and non-Bermudian staff in that period, irrespective of position, gender or racial background.

"Dale is fully aware that we do not personally or corporately endorse his comments about Europeans in terms of appearance, work, ethics or contribution to Bermuda."He has unreservedly apologised to us individually and has been to each of the restaurants in the group to acknowledge his mistake in making his comments.

"In addition, he is aware that many customers, both Bermudian and non-Bermudian, have expressed surprise and concern at his comments, and has emphasised his regret at making them in the first instance." Former head teacher Mr. Butler admitted in a letter to The Royal Gazette yesterday that, as an elected Member of Parliament, he was expected to be held to higher standards.

And he accepted that his comments had done little to bridge the gap to heal racial wounds that exist on the Island.

And in a letter of explanation and apology to his bosses at Little Venice, he said: "Considering my high profile, my past history etc., I think I have done well in two-and-a-half years to have addressed the big issues.

"I take a lot of stick when I don't say anything, and one short remark will not erase anything I have done in this company or in the community. I will continue to give both my best.

"I think I have done well without ever being told by any directors to watch what I say or to avoid any controversial issues. I have never received any such directions and I have stated this to Bermudians on a number of occasions."

Mr. Butler went on: "I have also defended the industry and taken lots of stick for doing so. I have stood up for the industry and I have certainly challenged Bermudians to wake up and do their part.

"I have NOT softened my approach to Bermudians who are not doing their part to make the country a success...I have tackled them hard and taken the criticism for that as well.

"In closing, in future, I will stick to the high ground and avoid making such careless statements."

The directors said: "We therefore fully accept Dale's apology and look forward to moving beyond this current controversy."

It has been suggested by some that perhaps the Speaker of the House at the time, which was Acting Speaker Walter Lister MP, should have interrupted Mr. Butler and moved him on as he began to drift from the issue.

However, Mr. Lister, when asked about the incident, said he would not comment. He said he appreciated the media had done what it had to, but said he did not believe commenting further would help the situation.

Former Speaker of the House Ernest DeCouto said he believed the comments were irrelevant to the issue of long-term residents.

He said: "It is the highest court in the land and members should set an example. Normally, when you drift like that, the speaker would say that you should get back closer to the shore.

"I think this highlights what people have been complaining about - that the level of debate has deteriorated in Parliament."