The lawyer representing a Bermudian who claimed he was overlooked for a Government position said yesterday the expatriate who got the job was not qualified.

Michael Dolding's case against the Public Service Commission (PSC) continued yesterday and he claimed that he was snubbed during the interview process for a head position at Marine and Ports although he believed he was qualified and that the new director Barry Coupland, a non-Bermudian, had been chosen without the proper qualifications.

His case against the PSC continued with witness Ianthia Wade who was the director of personnel services at the time of Mr. Dolding's bid to become Marine and Ports director.

Solicitor General Wilhelm Bourne questioned the witness first regarding applications and interviews.

Ms Wade was part of a three-person panel who oversaw the interview process.

She said it consisted of suitable Bermudian applicants but the panel did not believe they fit the job requirements. Instead they looked oversees after they believed the proper procedures - such as advertising the position in Bermuda and looking for Bermudian applicants - had been followed.

Representing Mr. Dolding, Queen's counsel Saul Froomkin noted that his client had been awarded for his success in completing a senior management development programme run by the Government and that those skills in management had been part of the requirements for the position. Ms Wade stated that even though Mr. Coupland, a New Zealander, did not have management training, which would be required for the position, he did have 35 years of engineering under his belt.

Mr. Froomkin pointed out that choosing which requirements for the position were most important for a job did not seem to be a fair way of recommending posts.

In February, Marine and Ports announced that Francis Richardson would be the designate director and when fully trained would take over the head position.

Mr. Richardson, a Bermudian, had worked his way up through the ranks and was in training under Mr. Coupland.

With experience working for Marine and Ports and formal management training, Mr. Dolding believed he should have been the candidate rather than bringing in a non-Bermudian for the position.

The Supreme Court trial began last Tuesday before Assistant Justice Charles Etta Simmons and will continue at a later date.