Cabinet Minister Ewart Brown has come under fire after making recommendations that an overseas surgeon, a man he has known for 20 years, should be employed on the Island -- because he is black.

The Royal Gazette has obtained a letter from Dr. Brown written to Cabinet colleague, Immigration Minister Paula Cox, suggesting the doctor from California be taken on as a general surgeon in Bermuda.

But medical professionals and opposition MPs last night condemned the move, arguing that proper procedures were not being followed.

In the letter, written at the end of January, Dr. Brown, a fierce proponent of Bermudianisation, said: "For the first time in a very long time Bermuda has been without the services of a black general surgeon.

"Therefore, I am submitting the attached work application on behalf of Dr.

Council Miller, an outstanding general surgeon who would like to relocate his practice from California to Bermuda.

"I have known Dr. Miller for more than 20 years and am absolutely positive that he would make a sterling contribution to healthcare in Bermuda.

"Dr. Burton Butterfield, President of the Bermuda Medical Association, is willing to hold Dr. Miller's work permit.'' It is the Department of Immigration that makes any final decision on an appointment, although the Medical Society does make recommendations.

But last night the medical community condemned the letter, arguing that race should not be a consideration when making an appointment.

And two Opposition backbenchers, when told of Dr. Brown's remarks, also went on the offensive, suggesting that proper procedures were not being followed.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette , Dr. Burton Butterfield denied that he was President of the Bermuda Medical Association and also refuted claims that anyone from the association was willing to hold Dr. Miller's permit.

And he also stressed that qualifications and capability -- not race -- should be the deciding factors when appointing any professional.

"We don't need to be racial,'' he said.

Dr. Andrew West, President of the Medical Society, the organisation that recommends to the Department of Immigration which doctor should be employed, confirmed the society was now considering taking on another surgeon.

But he intimated that there was more than one candidate up for the job and that Dr. Brown was wrong to put someone forward on the grounds of race.

"I think it's sad -- race doesn't come into it,'' he said.

"There aren't any women surgeons on the Island either. But the issue has been discussed by the society and recommendations will be made. We will look at the expertise that they can bring to the Island and what qualifications they have.'' Dr. Brown's comments also caused uproar among members of the Opposition, with both Shadow Health Minister Kim Young and Shadow Immigration Minister Michael Dunkley arguing that procedures were not being followed.

When told of the contents of the letter, Mr. Dunkley said: "There needs to be some transparency here.

"We need to know if the job's been advertised -- everyone should play by the same rules and the position should be advertised first.

"There's also a conflict of interest here. While I have every confidence in the Minister for Immigration, Ms Cox, Dr. Brown has an advantage.

"If this is the right man for the job I don't have a problem with it, but I wonder if procedures are being followed.'' Mrs. Young, a former nurse, also condemned the recommendation, saying Dr.

Brown was wrong to promote people because of their race rather than their capability.

"If we do need a new surgeon then we should try and get a Bermudian and if not then we should get the person who's best qualified for the job,'' she said.

"I haven't seen an advertisement for the job either.'' Both Ms Cox and Dr. Brown -- who is currently off Island -- could not be reached for comment.