Concerns about the granting of a contract to supply laptop computers to the Bermuda College led to "mass resignations" of staff in the College's Information Systems (IS) Department, a Government-commissioned report found last year.

The report paints a damning picture of irregular hiring practices, perceptions of racism and a climate of fear at the College.

Yesterday, the College pointed out that the report is almost a year old and that some of the perceptions had been proven to be "unfounded" and "inaccurate". But College spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett added that the report did point out areas "where issues were neglected".

Originally aimed at investigating high turnover rates within the IS department, it recommends ending the College's status as a quango and handing control over to the Ministry of Education.

"Consideration must be given to placing the Bermuda College more completely under the control of the Ministry of Education," the report states.

"The Board of Governors would continue to function. However a liaison officer could be appointed, with officers at the Ministry whose duties would include programme and curriculum responsibilities for the Bermuda College and the Senior Schools."

The report also sought to ferret out the reasons for a climate of fear, mistrust and insecurity among members of staff and, besides concerns over the "laptop contract", found examples of a "fuzzy" hiring policy, and a widely held perception that the College is prejudiced against black Bermudian men.

And it found serious divisions between Bermudian and non Bermudian staff.

Last year the College announced a plan to provide each full time student with a laptop computer. But staff have been upset for months that the contract was awarded to Application Service Provider Ignition because then College Board chairman Jan Spiering and Board Member Richard Winchell were shareholders of the Company.

"The question begging to be addressed was why, then, if everyone was in favour of this initiative, did it result in the resignations of five extremely qualified Bermudians, representing a total of 26-plus years experience lost to the Information Services Department and by extension the Bermuda College?" the report asks.

Staff rumblings began when College president Michael Orenduff appointed a steering committee to look into the laptop scheme and appointed a work permit holder as its head.

According to the report, staff felt that the head of the IS department, Ben Nwasiki, had been sidelined.

The initial committee chairman resigned soon after and was replaced by Jeff Finno, another expat lecturer.

And staff also believed that Ignition, which is not named directly in the report, had an unfair advantage over other companies, because of a perceived conflict of interest and because it had been chosen to conduct an audit of the IS department's needs before bids were requested.

Ignition Limited was chosen to install, implement and manage the programme which will last the full academic year and is being funded by private companies, it was announced last year.

Staff were also concerned that the Committee originally selected another company for the contract, but the decision was changed at a later date by a recomposed Committee.

Mr. Spiering resigned from the Board just prior to the company being awarded the laptop project, according to one College source.

The report also recommends reviewing contract awarding procedures. "We suggest that serious consideration be given to revisiting the procedure used when awarding the laptop project. We must be aware that a pimple on the skin or a ripple on the ocean often develops into tidal waves of potential scandal.

"We should avoid risking even the slightest indications of any impropriety. The College's public philosophy of openness together with its image could be at risk."

And the report reveals that Mr. Finno contacted CedarBridge Academy principal Kalmar Richards about the possibility of Mr. Nwasiki working for the senior secondary school, and reporting back to Mr. Orenduff - all without Mr. Nwasiki's knowledge.

And it refers to intercepted emails, sent by non Bermudian staff and advisors, describing Bermudian staff as "indecisive", "morons", "poor leaders", and "incompetent".

Of the five staff members who left the College following the award of the Ignition contract, three had refused to come back with the present administration in place, and the other two declined to be interviewed about the matter.

"Of the two who did not appear for interview, one is currently acting at the College in a consultancy capacity and just might be convinced to return."

Dozens of staff members were interviewed for the "fact finding" exercise, according to the report's author, retired labour relations officer and former acting Prisons Commissioner Edwin Wilson.

The report was commissioned by then-Minister of Education and Development Paula Cox.

Human resources functions should be moved more directly under the supervision of the President, was another of its recommendations.

"As the number of interviews grew, we too commenced to have grave misgivings over practices at the Bermuda College as it relates to the upward mobility of Bermudians," it states.

"The ever decreasing number of male Bermudians in posts of authority also gave us great concern that such should be the case in our major educational institution. Given the number of recent resignations of qualified Bermudians we could find no evidence of serious effort to stamp out this disturbing trend.

"Many qualified Bermudians came forward during the interview process with, in many cases, extraordinary qualifications who have continued to be denied employment at the Bermuda College."

Mrs. James Barnett said the school was committed to to fostering "a climate of mutual respect that will be upheld..."

"Diversity training for all members of Faculty and staff has been suggested and favourably received, as has other formalised process that seeks to foster a higher degree of trust," she said.

Asked for reactions to some of Mr. Wilson's suggestions, Mrs. James Barnett said the while the College was opposed to coming under the control of the Ministry of Education, it had already undertaken to adopt the Government's tendering process when seeking to award contracts to outside entities.

Additionally, she said when the Human Resources Department was removed from under the direction of the president, the director at the time was against the change.

"However, the (then) Board's decision was based on proven practice in other jurisdictions," Mrs. James Barnett told The Royal Gazette. "Given the history of the HR function of the College, HR once again began reporting directly to the president, and further is once again a part of the executive team."