A Bermudian addictions' counsellor is suing the Salvation Army for wrongful dismissal after she was sacked last year.

Attorneys acting for Stephanie Melvina Burrows, of Warwick, filed a Supreme Court writ on Wednesday against the religious charity.

The action for wrongful dismissal and defamation of Ms Burrows is against top level staff at the Harbour Light drug rehabilitation programme including her former boss Major David Goulding, the director of the shelter.

Health and Social Services' Minister Nelson Bascome is also named as a defendant in the law suit.

But it is understood the legal action relates to his former position as a senior counsellor with the Harbour Light programme rather than his current job as a top Cabinet Minister in the Progressive Labour Party Government.

Mello Hollis Jones & Martin lawyer Juliana Jack declined to give details of the case yesterday.

But she said she expected that all the nuances of what had happened to Ms Burrows would eventually come out into the public forum after legal papers were served on the defendants.

Writ not a surprise, says Minister And she did confirm that an official complaint about the dismissal was filed with the Human Rights Commission on behalf of Ms Burrows in the past few months.

It is understood she was sacked on June 2 last year after starting with the Salvation Army just eight months beforehand in November 1997 as an entry-level addictions counsellor.

Last night Salvation Army senior officials were shocked to hear of the law suit.

Divisional secretary for business administration Major Wilson Noble said the call from The Royal Gazette was the first he knew of the legal action over Ms Burrows' sacking.

But he refused to divulge any particulars.

"We have not been notified of anything. It's a personnel matter and any personnel matters are private matters,'' he said.

Health Minister and former Harbour Light drug counsellor Mr. Bascome was also hesitant to become further embroiled in the legal wrangle.

He said he was aware that the law suit had been impending since attorneys acting for Ms Burrows had sparked a slew of letters.

"No, this is not a complete surprise because there have been a number of legal enquiries already,'' he said.

"But I don't want to do anything to prejudice the case. That would be subjudice.'' He confirmed the law suit related to his former counselling role -- which he relinquished on his election to Parliament on November 9 last year since it could have clashed with his position as Health and Social Services Minister.

Major David Goulding could not be contacted for comment last night.

CHURCH CHU