Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister has said race and promotion are at the heart of the customs sick out, which continued yesterday.

Collector of Customs Winifred Fostine-DeSilva said 18 staff stayed away yesterday but services had not been disrupted as other staff had been drafted in. She predicted the absentees would return today.

Last night Mr. Lister appealed to protestors to continue dialogue through Government mediators rather than walk out.

The Royal Gazette has been told there is resentment by some staff that white expatriates were continuing to be hired instead of experienced locals.

But other sources in Customs said they felt it right that academic qualifications and training were being highly prized.

Earlier this month, Labour Relations Officer Arlene Brock met Customs staff to discuss a number of issues, including claims black officers were being denied full promotion.

Mr. Lister agreed race and promotion were core issues and said perceptions were often more powerful than realities.

"We have to respect all views and bring them to a solution. We have issues going down there going back quite some time," he said.

"What I am asking is that members of staff give Ms Brock the opportunity to work through the issues so we can come up with solutions which make sense for all.

"I don't think we can solve festering sores overnight. You have to stay there to work it out.

"It is very very unfortunate that at the height of the tourism season we have staff who aren't particularly happy.

"Because a happy worker is a good worker and an unhappy worker can't perform in the way we want."

He said Ms Brock was an experienced go-between.

"In terms of co-operation and support on both sides you can't walk away from it. You have to have the will to succeed."

Last April seven senior customs officers at Bermuda International Airport pulled a mystery sick-out.

And last month civil Servants union leader Edward Ball called for customs head Winifred Fostine-DeSilva to make it clear why local candidates were failing to get promotions despite attending training courses.

He spoke out after a Canadian replaced a local as assistant collector in the eastern division, leading to disappointment within the ranks.

Mrs. Fostine-DeSilva said staff had coped with day two of the sick out yesterday.

She said: "We are in the same situation as yesterday but we have everything in place and there has no delays at the sea ports or airports."

Searches had been done to the proper standard said Mrs. Fostine-DeSilva.

She said there had been no communication from the missing staff.

Asked if there had been talks with the union she said: "I would rather not comment on that."

Customs staff are allowed two sick days before they must get a doctor's certificate.

Mrs. Fostine-DeSilva said: "I am expecting people to be back tomorrow."

Bermuda Public Services Union general secretary Ed Ball refused to comment last night, but said a press release was being prepared by Financial Secretary Donald Scott.

A Government statement last night said: "Talks to resolve the underlying issues are progressing with the assistance of the Bermuda Public Services Union."

One source told The Royal Gazette some staff were angry they had not got the promotion they were seeking and were acting on personal agendas.

Another source said the sick-out had been an independent action which had taken the union by surprise and had been launched after Ms Brock failed to take a particular side in talks.

The source said: "Some people were trying to get her to say something about racism but she is saying she doesn't think it is anything to do with racism.

"There aren't sufficient grounds to make Winifred Fostine-DeSilva go. There is enough blame to be spread around for everybody.

"They wanted her to come in and tell her what they wanted but it doesn't go that way."

A Committee of senior civil servants, chaired by Head of the Civil Service Stanley Oliver, has been set up to find a way to cut queues at the airport.