Stemedica yesterday refused to reveal whether it was successful in its search for a lab manager for Bermuda's new adult stem cell clinic.

An advertisement placed on Canadian and UK websites by the California-based group states the post for the Brown-Darrell Clinic begins on or before December 1.

Yesterday, Brown-Darrell — a group formed by Premier Ewart Brown, wife Wanda and Stemedica — did not respond by press time to a request for information on how Stemedica's search had gone.

Last week, The Royal Gazette reported that the job had been advertised overseas without first being advertised in Bermuda, meaning any resulting appointment would break work permit rules laid out by Government.

Dr. Brown responded by claiming Brown-Darrell was a "different thing" to Stemedica and that Brown-Darrell would advertise in Bermuda in due course.

He said the local candidate selected by Brown-Darrell would then be compared with the candidate chosen by Stemedica.

Yesterday The Royal Gazette asked Brown-Darrell why an advert had not been placed in Bermuda before Canada or the UK — given that under Immigration rules the first opportunity to fill the post should be given to any qualified Bermudian to apply for the job.

We received no response.

The advert, on Jobpostcanada.com and reed.co.uk, for a "full-time lab manager in Bermuda" stated: "The job will be conducted from the Brown-Darrell Clinic, a world class research facility located in Smith's Parish, Bermuda."

It continued: "Position is to begin on or before December 1, 2007, and requires full-time residency in Bermuda."

Dr. Brown has denied the suggestion that the new appointment would quickly need a work permit to start work on the Island on or before December 1, saying the media had reached "mistaken conclusions as to when a posted job might actually begin in Bermuda".