managers, but a spokesman for the utility says the guest worker hired will be required to train a Bermudian successor.

An advertisement for the Belco post of manager of information systems appeared in the Canadian newspaper The Globe & Mail on Monday.

The ad called for 15 years experience, a university degree, and "superior interpersonal skills.'' A three-year contract with "a very competitive remuneration and benefits package'' was offered.

"We advertised for the position here and there weren't any successful applicants, so the company is advertising the position overseas,'' Belco spokesman Ms Linda Smith said yesterday.

Belco's top managers were Bermudians and it was a Bermudian who left the post to create the vacancy, she added. Belco's 400 employees were 95 percent Bermudian, including spouses of Bermudians. "The person who fills this position is going to be required to prepare a Bermudian to take that position.

That's the philosophy of Bermudianisation of the company.''