The first female president of Bermuda College gave an emotional speech as she officially took on her new position yesterday.

Duranda Greene choked back tears as she paid tribute at an official hand-over ceremony at the Paget campus to her late grandmother, Marguerite Burgess, who raised her, as well as her mother Verda Burgess, sister Pandora Moore and husband Terry Greene.

Dr. Greene, who has taken over from American Dr. Charles Green as president, said: "I consider it an honour to stand here today as the new president of Bermuda College and I'm looking forward to serving the students, the faculty and the staff in this new position.

"I envisage Bermuda College becoming a focal point for the community and for the people of Bermuda."

She added: "I thank my mom for without her I would not be here. Thanks to my grandmother. She is not here physically but I'm sure she is watching over me this moment from her heavenly home.

"Thanks to my sister, my confidant and my best friend. Special thanks to my husband who has been on this journey with me for almost 20 years."

Dr. Greene said the college had been through some "difficult times recently" and that it would be naive of her to think there would not be others.

But she added: "I believe that with each of these experiences we will emerge with a renewed commitment to setting Bermudian students on the path to success."

The publicly-funded college was recently slammed in a report by the Government's Public Accounts Committee for the alleged misspending of thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money by outgoing president Dr. Green.

The new president told The Royal Gazette after the ceremony that improving the college's financial policies and procedures was something that was already being worked on.

She said she was also eager to start a ten-year strategic plan for the college and a number of technical education initiatives.

Education Minister Randy Horton praised Dr. Greene, herself a former student of the college, for the "tremendous sacrifices" she had made to succeed at the college.

"You are proof that Bermudians, if they want, will achieve. All the very, very best to you as you move forward."

Dr. Green will continue to serve as a consultant to the new president and the board of governors for the next two months before he retires. He has been given the title president emeritus and will continue to serve as an ambassador for the college in the future.

Mr. Horton said Dr. Green had given a "stellar performance" during his three-year reign at the college. "You have guided the college with a clear vision and you have accomplished many things, Dr. Green, in your tenure."

Dr. Green gave a short, low-key farewell at the ceremony. The Vietnam veteran said it had been he and his wife's pleasure to come to Bermuda. "This has been in fact the best tour of all the tours that I have had through my career. You are a fine college, a fine people."