Mr. Derrick Burgess appears to have won powerful backing in the race to become the new Bermuda Industrial Union president.

The union's first vice president has the support of the BIU's giant hotel division, sources told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Normally, the might of this division -- which has the most clout in an election -- proves decisive.

"Definitely Mr. Burgess is the type of man we need in this day and age -- someone who can manage the union,'' said a source.

"He is very knowledgeable, and doesn't make hasty decisions.'' He added Mr. Burgess, who heads the hotel division, also had backing from the Post Office.

Challenging Mr. Burgess as replacement for Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP is Mr.

Chris Furbert, the union's chief negotiator and second vice president. Mr.

Furbert, who heads the stevedores, is said to have support from the hospitals.

And he probably also has the bus drivers' and Telco divisions behind him.

The BIU's construction division has already publicly aligned itself with Mr.

Furbert.

"We are supporting Chris Furbert,'' said Mr. Howard Saltus, president of the BIU's construction division.

But the source told The Royal Gazette : "If I had to put my money on one of the candidates it would be Mr. Burgess.'' Mr. Simmons, 62, was elected BIU president in 1974 and has been a union officer since 1962, representing Bermuda on international trade organisations and at International Labour Organisation conferences around the world. He is the Progressive Labour Party's MP for Pembroke East.

His successor will be chosen by delegates representing each division at the BIU's biennial conference next March.

The hotels, the biggest division, have the most delegates -- ten, according to sources.

The breakdown of the other divisions are said to be: Garages, one delegate; Printers, one delegate; Union Executive, one delegate; Construction, two delegates; Marine and Ports, one delegate; Public Works, three delegates; Telco, three delegates; Post Office, one delegate; and Supermarkets, one delegate; Air services (Bermuda Aviation Services), one delegate; Agriculture and Fisheries, two delegates; Port workers, one delegate; Truckers, one delegate; Hospitals, two delegates; and Bus drivers, two delegates.

"Normally the hotels division supports the candidate which wins, but you never know,'' said the source.

"It has been known for delegates to go into a conference and change their minds, voting a different way than was expected.'' Mr. Burgess and Mr. Furbert have been keeping a low profile.

Both were reluctant to comment to The Royal Gazette , although they confirmed they had been nominated to stand in the race.

"The people will nominate who they think can best serve them over the next two years,'' Mr. Furbert said recently.

"Other than that there is not a whole lot that can be said. I will try to attend the meetings and explain why I think I am a good candidate for the job.'' It is not the first time the pair have squared up.

The BIU reportedly engaged in an internal "power struggle'' before Mr.

Furbert was named full-time divisional organiser and negotiator in January.

The general council was said to favour Mr. Burgess for the post, while the executive council successfully backed Mr. Furbert.

"They both should be interviewed. They are two entirely different candidates,'' the source said.