improper hiring and firing practices at the Grotto Bay Hotel, Government Home Affairs spokesman the Hon. Maxwell Burgess announced in the Senate yesterday.

He was answering questions put by Opposition leader in the Senate and Labour and Home Affairs spokesman Sen. Alex Scott during the last session.

Sen. Scott had claimed at least two Bermudians had been removed from their posts at Grotto Bay over the last three months, and that both had been replaced by the same contract worker.

The two employees were forced to write to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs because Grotto Bay no longer recognised the Bermuda Industrial Union, Sen. Scott had said.

He also claimed a contract worker declared he was going to have "all the niggers'' in the dining room replaced by his non-Bermudian friends.

To both allegations, Sen. Burgess responded: "An investigation was put in place when the letter of January 29, 1993 was received by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.'' In a follow-up question, Sen. Scott raised further allegations about the "contract worker's'' behaviour.

He claimed hotel employees had told him the non-Bermudian had torn up job applications submitted by Bermudians.

Sen. Burgess said he was not in a position to reply to the allegation. Sen.

Scott, in a further supplementary question, asked, "Will Government undertake to make public the findings of its investigation once it is completed -- or will it be shrouded under a blanket of secrecy?'' Sen. Burgess said the findings would be made known the persons involved and not in the Senate.

The upper house also heard that Government has no plans to privatise garbage collection.

Sen. Ira Philip (PLP) asked last week whether Government was considering privatising garbage collection -- in view of "growing dissatisfaction'' with the service, which has cut collections from twice to once a week.

He also asked how successful the "blue bag'' recycling scheme was proving and whether the bulky waste collection service had been suspended.

Sen. Burgess , who is also spokesman for Works and Engineering, said Government did not believe there was growing discontent with the reduced garbage collection service.

"The vast majority of the Island has admirably made the switch,'' he said.

"We are working with those still dissatisfied with the switch by highlighting the benefits of once-a-week collection. Of particular emphasis is the budgetary savings and the vast improvement in collection efficiency.'' Sen. Burgess said that Government was not "at this time or in the near or distant future'' considering privatising garbage collection.

"We are pleased with the efforts of our collection crews and wish to provide them with every assurance that we do not intend to privatise this service,'' he said.

Sen. Philip asked why a private list of truckers had been circulated in the community by Government.

Sen. Burgess went on to say Government had not suspended its bulky waste pick-up service. As of April 5, he said, residents can call for bulky waste pick-ups.

And he conceded the amount of recyclables being collected had dropped slightly, however, the public "appeared to be more willing to recycle'' and Government was hoping to double the amounts recycled over the next year.

In a follow up question, Sen. Trevor Woolridge (PLP) saying he had noticed widespread illegal dumping while driving his taxi around the Island, wanted to know if Government was concerned the litter and debris would hurt the Island's image as a clean and safe destination.

Sen. Burgess said illegal dumping was an "age-old problem'' Government was continuing to tackle.

Sen. Woolridge, Opposition Youth and Sport spokesman, also tabled new questions on National Stadium.

He asked whether the Youth and Sport Ministry was unable to complete the National Stadium and why no women were appointed to the Board of Trustees. He also asked if Government had handed over administration of the stadium to the Trustees.

The Hon. Maxwell Burgess.