The Principal Curator at the Bermuda Aquarium has hit back at claims of racism on its learning and employment programmes.

College administrator Laverne Furbert said in the Bermuda Industrial Union's `The Workers' Voice' that the Aquarium had white-dominated staff operating programmes for mainly white kids. She said her son had been accepted on to a naturalist programme over the phone because he had a white-sounding surname (Chapman) but the coordinator had been visibly shocked to find he was black.

But the Aquarium's Jack Ward pointed out that Ms Furbert's complaints about the make-up of a children's naturalist programme date back to the 1980s.

He said: "At that time, it was being operated by a black woman -- and about 50 percent of the participants were black.

"I don't know where she gets the idea the coordinator was visibly shocked -- she would have looked very similar to her.

"There is no validity in this and it's my understanding that Ms Furbert knows that now. I am annoyed she didn't check her facts. This is very unfortunate.

"In order to ensure we were actively recruiting from the community we recruited in the public schools -- Berkeley was heavily represented in the Junior Naturalists Program.

"We have 7,000 school children through here every year -- whatever the teachers bring us. They represent the make up of Bermuda's school system.

"Many of them are black -- I don't think we missed many, we provide this opportunity to just about every school child in Bermuda.'' Ms Furbert had also alleged that Aquarium staff were mainly white.

She wrote: "Employment advertisements for the aquarium are listed in the newspaper, not under Government Vacancies but by themselves, as if the aquarium was a separate entity and not part of the Ministry of the Environment. I contend that only allows for certain people to be hired at the aquarium.'' But Mr. Ward said: "She challenges us on advertising protocol -- we follow standard Government protocol -- all civil service posts are advertised by the department of personnel in the official gazette which is the Bermuda Sun.

"But her allegation that we are running the aquarium like a private business is absolutely correct and we apologise to absolutely no one.

"We are attempting to run it as a business -- we think it's the only logical way we can get the best bang for the buck.

"All over the world there are complaints that Government is inefficient.

"On her perceptions of racism -- it's a fact that biological sciences have not traditionally attracted many people of colour to go into them.

"Many of our applicants have bachelors degrees or better, unfortunately the vast majority are white. That's just a fact. The best person gets the job.

"For almost 20 years there has been an active recognition of the issue of diversity in members of staff -- my predecessor was very active in trying to ensure we represent the community -- it has been a very effective process.

"I agree with her statement that Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo belongs to the people -- virtually everything else is concocted in her own mind or is incorrect.

"I would say she has very little understanding of what goes on here.'' Asked if she stood by the article Ms Furbert said: "That's my opinion.'' Asked if it was true that the programme her son went on had been run by a black woman Ms Furbert declined to comment further.

MUSEUM MUS