work backlog.

One local businessman claimed it was taking several months for summonses to be carried out.

Mr. Tracey Kelly, the court's administrative officer, said the extra bailiffs would start on Monday. One was being hired just for a year to cope with the backlog.

It would bring the number of bailiffs to five -- one more than the normal amount.

"There has been a period of about two months during which we've just had three bailiffs,'' said Mr. Kelly.

"It has taken that long to fill a vacancy, and we have got a bit of a backlog of work at present.'' Mr. Kelly, however, said he had not received any complaints about delays in executing summonses. He added most summonses were carried out within 30 days.

Delays sometimes occurred when bailiffs were given misleading information, such as the wrong address.

"We really get ebbs and flows where sometimes bailiffs have a lot of work to do,'' said Mr. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly scotched suggestions the present bailiffs were too old for the job.

The qualifications for the job were at least three years experience in court procedures, and a secondary education certificate, and, naturally, good health.

It was not necessary to be a "superman'' -- and one of the bailiffs, in fact, was a woman, said Mr. Kelly.

One local businessman, who did not wish to be named, said he had been forced to wait "months and months'' for summonses to be carried out. Delays ran risk of people -- perhaps expatriates -- leaving the Island before the bailiffs knock on their door.

Yesterday the Bermuda Debt Collection Agency reported no serious problem.

A spokeswoman said: "Sometimes there are delays, but I don't think it's got particularly bad lately.''