disabled vice president Phil Cracknell after the company bought him a battery-operated buggy to help him on his way.

The controller of investment operations has been partially paralysed since the age of 16-months after contracting polio, and needs crutches to help him get about.

He was able to make his way around the company's previous smaller office at Cumberland House, but was facing a huge task when the $115 million new building officially opened last week.

Mr. Cracknell, who lives in St. George's, was finding it increasingly difficult to get about on his crutches after years of wear and tear on his arms, and had talked often about buying himself a buggy.

CEO Brian O'Hara came to the rescue and made the decision for him -- by offering to import a $3,800 personal mobility vehicle in from the US.

On Monday, Mr. Cracknell was getting used to the machine, which does speeds up to 8 mph, around the corridors and landings of XL House.

He said: "It's excellent. I can't believe how easy it is to get about.

"Before this, I predicted that if Brian had called me for a meeting in five minutes' time, it would have taken me half an hour to get to his office.

"My shoulders were beginning to give out because I had been on crutches for so long. It is amazing to be able to get about without them, now.'' And it would seem the mobility bug was catching around the building on Bermudiana Road, as Mr. O'Hara himself was also sailing around the corridors on board one of the latest child-craze scooters.

He said the building was big and spacious enough to easily handle the alternative means of transport, and said the company was investigating whether a second buggy was needed for another member of staff.

The CEO said: "This is such an extensive facility and Phil's job takes him throughout the organisation. Without it, it would take him half a day just to make the rounds.

"We have such spacious hallways throughout the building, this works really well.

"I think it's a great idea. It's money well spent. We are really pleased to help make Phil's job easier. We are happy to do anything to help our staff in their work.'' Now, Mr. Cracknell is hoping the Transport Control Department will pass the vehicle, allowing him to take it outside.

He added: "I'm very grateful. It's going to help me enormously. This is an indication of how the company deals with these kinds of issues. Not many companies would do this.

"And, who knows, it may give my body a rest and enable me to play more golf.'' All of XL's 270 staff are to work from the new building, which is more than 345,000 square feet in size and comprises two towers, and has two levels of underground parking.