A fast ferry pilot sacked after being found to be over the legal alcohol limit while at the ship's wheel has been offered a job back in Marine and Ports, the Premier announced yesterday.

Mr. Furbert added that the union had accepted the offer and there would be no BIU general meeting on Thursday — which would have brought public transport to a grinding halt during the morning rush hour commute.

In a news conference yesterday, the Premier denied he had backed down from an earlier "zero tolerance" stance after the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) threatened to hold a general meeting in a dispute over the future of Mr. Pearman.

The Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, said: "Earlier today the Ministry of Tourism and Transport placed an offer on the table regarding the recently terminated ferry pilot. The Department of Marine and Ports is offering former ferry pilot Dwayne Pearman another post with the department. In this new post he would serve as a Seaman."

Dr. Brown added: "It is crucial that Mr. Pearman rebuild the trust of his employer after what amounted to gross misconduct and bad judgment on the job."

When asked if he had backed down to the union's demands the Premier said "no". "This offer was always a consideration," he said.

The offer requires Pearman to attend the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

If he accepts it, he will no longer pilot ferries, but will assist with the docking.

After the news conference the Premier's Press Secretary, Glenn Jones, added: "Today's offer is similar to an offer made last week by the Department of Marine and Ports.

"It is presented this time with the belief that Mr. Pearman is willing to participate in the Employee Assistance Programme."

But Mr. Furbert said that was not so.

In a news conference called later in the day, Mr. Furbert said: "The offer was not made. This is the first job offer we have had."

Mr. Jones later retracted the statement and said: "I apologize for any confusion created by the inaccurate comment. This office was misinformed shortly before making the comment to the press."

During the news conference Mr. Furbert explained that the union had been clear all along that they were willing to accept that Pearman be demoted to seaman, receive a suspension and attend EAP.

They argued that he had risen through the ranks and until this incident had an unblemished record.

He added that the union takes public transport seriously and has been working with Marine and Ports on a drug police.

The dispute began last week when the BIU demanded Government reinstated Pearman or face the possibility of a walkout.

Pearman — in whose bin seven empty bottles of 16.5 percent proof 'Magnum' tonic wine were found — pleaded guilty at Magistrates' Court to piloting a passenger ferry while more than twice over the alcohol limit. He was fined $2,000.

There were no reported injuries but the incident resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage. After the case the Department of Marine and Ports conducted an inquiry and fired him.

Last Friday, Marine and Ports Services' workers held a meeting at 8 a.m. disrupting commuters and instituted a ban on overtime, which Government called a work to rule.

On Monday Mr. Furbert gave Government two more days, until 5 p.m. tomorrow to reinstate Pearman or said all public transportation could come to a halt Thursday morning at 8 a.m. when the general membership would call a meeting regardless of arbitration.

In a statement Dr. Brown said on Monday: "We have a zero tolerance for endangering the well-being of our passengers because anything less would rattle the public's confidence in our commitment to public safety. Safety must not be compromised."

Yesterday he added: "Our position has been, and always will be, zero tolerance for any employee who endangers the safety of the public while on the job.

"That is why I am also announcing today that the random drug testing policy already in place for bus operators will be intensified to include any employee trusted with the role of transporting the public."