Customs officer Nigel Pemberton was elected president of the Bermuda Public Services Association last night, defeating hospital worker Golinda Fox.

He takes over from union stalwart Betty Christopher who retired after 35 years union service.

Mr. Pemberton, who picked up 547 votes to Ms. Fox's 440, said he would work to solidify the union. He said: "We have to pull all the factions together. We have to go through a rebuilding process, re-educating members.

"We need to strengthen the union and get it back where it was."

He said health and safety and pensions would be big issues, these were also identified as big factors by post office worker Alan Roberts who held on to the post of first vice president.

He said: "There are also problems with performance related pay. I am against it."

Mr. Roberts got 404 votes, beating off a challenge by Leleath Bailey, a former union President, who polled 361 votes. Immigration department worker Debbie K. Martin polled 167 votes.

Senior tax officer Michael Crichlow ousted Michael Looby from the treasurer's post, picking up 497 votes to Mr. Looby's 410.

Mr. Crichlow said: "The membership needs to be more informed about the financial situation."

He promised a complete review of the union's finances.

BPSA General Secretary Edward Ball said about the new team elected last night: "It represents the new challenges facing the BPSA because of 9/11 and the civil service review. There are going to be some very pressing issues to deal with."

He said ten of the union's 18 contracts would be coming up in this year but Government would be pressed for cash because of the economic downturn after September 11. "There's going to be a lot of tough win-win negotiation by the BPSA. Basically people will have to pull together."

There were 991 voters in the poll, representing 31 percent of the union's membership of 3,190 people.