A drive to clamp down on sloppiness in Government is to be beefed up with new staff for the Island's independent financial watchdogs.

For the office of the Auditor has advertised abroad for a total of six employees to give it extra teeth to bite into inefficiency in the public sector.

And the advert in the Toronto-based Globe and Mail stresses "at present there is no personal income tax in Bermuda.'' Acting Auditor William White said the posts were not new jobs -- but were bringing the Auditors office back up to its full strength of 17.

But he admitted: "It will put some more bodies in here and will help us to fulfill our mandate.

"It's filling some holes to make sure we're not overstretched in what we have to do.'' The posts -- all for accountants to act as audit managers and staff auditors -- have been advertised both locally and in Canada.

Mr. White said that the Office of the Auditor had an authorised complement of 17 -- but that it had been understrength since late last year due to staff taking jobs elsewhere.

The PLP's election manifesto for the last General Election pledged to "move swiftly'' to "strengthen the Office of the Government Auditor.'' Mr. White added that the jobs had been advertised on-Island, but only attracted three applications.

He explained after the jobs had been advertised in Bermuda and drew a small response, the decision was taken to advertise in Canada.

Mr. White said three of the jobs were potential contract renewals, while the rest were to fill vacant posts.

He added that all candidates would have to have between three and five years' relevant experience, depending on the post applied for.

Candidates must also have passed the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants final exams or hold an internationally-recognised qualification acceptable to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda.

The last report by Auditor Larry Dennis, for the financial year ending March, 1995, included information up until late 1998. Yesterday he was off the Island and unavailable for comment.

But he said in the report on his own department that his team is responsible for auditing the books of a total of 43 different organisations.

He added: "I confirm that there were no changes made in relation to staffing or money sought by me for the operation of the office for fiscal year 1995 that affected the work of the Auditor.'' But he said: "However, by November, 1998, the situation had changed, a matter I will discuss in my 1998 report.''