Government backbencher Dale Butler drew the wrath of Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Terry Lister after he released immigration statistics in the the House of Assembly last Friday.

Mr. Butler, who serves on the Immigration board, revealed that out of the 1,200 jobs which had been advertised by employers last year, only 75 Bermudians applied for the positions.

It is unclear whether Mr. Lister will seek disciplinarian action against Mr. Butler.

Mr. Butler said he believed that making Bermudians privy to this knowledge on a quarterly basis would work toward alleviating tensions between Immigration, expatriates and locals.

He also suggested that further investigation should be done by Immigration to find out why Bermudians were not chasing or failing to land job opportunities.

Mr. Lister was reported as saying that although he could not comment on the accuracy of the information but he said he was "disappointed" Mr. Butler chose to disclose "confidential" facts and figures in the House.

But Mr. Butler told The Royal Gazette the survey was unofficial, saying that it was something that was done out of personal interest, adding it was no secret that there was a shortage of Bermudian applicants.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Employers Council spoke in support of the MP's comments, saying she was in full agreement that the figures were troubling.

Andrea Mowbray said her agency had been long aware of the disparaging numbers.

"I don't know what the solution is," Ms Mowbray said. "Most of Bermudians feel that the ads are there because companies are trying to renew contracts for foreigners, so people just say `why bother'. But somehow we must encourage Bermudians to apply for these positions - don't just assume it's a renewal." Ms Mowbray also said the issue of training and qualifications also played a major part and she agreed with Mr. Butler when he said that it must start at the school level.

"It's not just an issue of having more scholarships, because there are still many remaining unfulfilled. And accounting firms are famous for educating Bermudians. Instead, children must be taught early in high school about what it means to be an accountant. Get them on the road in the first years of high school, not when they are finishing. Get them thinking in the direction at a younger age."