In his quest to get more Bermudians hired in the hospitality and construction industries, Minister Derrick Burgess may be up against a stonewall of apathy.

“Nonetheless,” the Labour and Immigration Minister said on the House of Assembly floor on Friday, “the Department will be unrelenting in its pursuit” to get Bermudians employed.

In October, the Ministry spent a week encouraging masons, carpenters, plumbers, and other skilled labourers to sign up for work in construction — a booming industry for the island.

Over that period, 47 people showed up, and so far, ten have been placed for employment.

Both numbers are below what the Minister would have liked to see.

“It is to be regretted that many simply have not responded to the Department’s repeated calls to assist,” he said.

A similarly disappointing outcome resulted near the end of last month.

A three-day push to get locals into to the hospitality industry produced only 91 completed applications, according to the Minister. And a number of them already had jobs, but were looking for a career change.

Nine students from CedarBridge Academy provided the brightest spot for the Minister’s effort when they registered and voiced interest in hospitality jobs.

Mr. Burgess said: “I am pleased to advise that the hotels have undertaken to guarantee these students employment during the summer vacation, in hope that they will be enticed into careers in the industry.”

The disappointing response in both areas was not from a lack of effort.

The Minister told his Parliamentary colleagues there were print media ads, and in some cases, “team members even ventured into areas where our young men tend to gather, the Royal Naval Field in Somerset, for example, and introduced them to the opportunities available in the hotels.

“Although none responded positively at the time, it is our hope that at least a seed was planted.”

The Minister conceded that international business and financial services are more lucrative for Bermudians, but said hospitality was “the traditional and proven pillar of our economy.

“While the overwhelming majority of these guest workers perform well, there is an obvious need for larger numbers of Bermudians in the industry.

“There is the undeniable view that a visitor’s experience in Bermuda is enhanced significantly as a result of his or her encounter with the traditionally warm and welcoming face and tones of a Bermudian.”

Minister Burgess says his office continues to work with people who showed interest in both the construction and hospitality industries over the past two months.

He is also encouraging locals seeking employment to head to the Bermuda Hotel Association’s Career and Jobs Fair. It will be held at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel on February 20.

Hopefully, by late February, it’s not too late to ride the success hotel operators are predicting.

As The Royal Gazette reported last month, The Bermuda Hotel Association sees advance bookings for December up 26 percent over last year.

The following months of January and February are up110 percent and 148 percent respectively, compared to the same months in 2005.

The Minister says the hospitality industry immediately needs people in every area — housekeeping, food service, plumbing, maintenance, senior management, spa operations, and golf course workers.