MPs passed legislation ensuring continuity of leadership and governance at Bermuda College.

The Bermuda College Amendment Act 2005 was piloted in the House of Assembly by Education Minister Terry Lister.

Mr. Lister told the House that the legislation would ensure a stable board at the Bermuda College by keeping the length of service to a minimum of three years.

It would also allow a chairman and/or deputy chairman from time to time be re-appointed for a like term.

Shadow Minister of Education Neville Darrell supported the amended Act.

He said that the Quango Report in 2003 indicated that in three and a half years, prior to the production of the report, there had been three chairmen and three deputy chairmen appointed at Bermuda College.

Describing the number of appointments in the short space of time as "musical chairs", Mr. Darrell said it contributed towards the disruption at the College during this time.

"We are agreeing with the amendment simply because we need to contain the haemorrhaging, but in fact it's important to look at the haemorrhaging to look at some of the lessons we can learn as a result... that's what we're supporting," he said.

"Think of the great intellectual losses that we had while we were changing chairs and deputy chairs, you saw a haemorrhaging of talented intellectuals coming and going from that institution."