Shadow Minister of Homne Affairs has questioned the appointment of Mrs. Lori Limes, a native of Boston who is married to a Bermudian, saying there were Bermudians qualified for the job.

"I can't believe anyone would be investigating this,'' said Mrs. Sue White, an SPCA official who helped select Mrs. Limes. "Lori is married to a Bermudian, and she has 16 years experience in animal welfare and kennel care.

"She has worked at the Animal Rescue Shelter in Boston, and that's where we send our people for training.

"No one here has her qualifications, the fact that she has married a Bermudian and now works for us is absolutely great.

"This is a tremendous boost to the shelter, because she has experience in animal testing, adoption, and animal health care.

"She had wonderful references and she went through all the proper Immigration procedures. I'm amazed that someone would complain about her hiring.'' Mrs. White said the job had not been advertised, but that a Bermudian, Ms Joanne Geany had been hired for an office administrator post which was advertised.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman, said a work permit was granted for Mrs. Limes on February 3.

He confirmed the position had not been advertised but said he was satisfied that Mrs. Limes had "special skills'' and granted the work permit on that basis.

However, Mr. Scott said he was disappointed that the Ministry chose to "rubber stamp'' the application instead of providing protection for Bermudians.

"Saying she has 16 years experience is not enough when we have Bermudians with the requisite number of years experience,'' he said. "Though the Ministry can never tell an employer who to hire, they can stop an employer from hiring a non-Bermudian until they are satisfied there are no qualified Bermudians.'' Mr. Scott also pushed aside suggestions that Mrs. Limes was married to a Bermudian.

He claimed there were Bermudian applications in for the post before Mrs. Limes was married, and that he believed foreign spouses of Bermudians should always take a second seat to qualified Bermudians.

Mr. Scott said he received a letter signed by someone calling themselves an "unemployed Bermudian'' which alleged the post of kennel co-ordinator was created especially for Mrs. Limes The letter writer further alleged that a part-time Bermudian worker was let go last weekend without being given an opportunity to apply.

Mr. Scott said he took the letter to Mr. Pearman on March 24.

"Since that time I have been made to understand that there were at least three Bermudians who applied for the position,'' he said.

He added: "I have not talked to them personally, but I am told that they were not given any opportunity to apply. They did not even know what the job entailed because no job description was circulated.''