international company sector, David Ezekiel, with almost predictable results.

The response, jobs should go to Bermudians.

It is certainly true that jobs should go to Bermudians but there has to be an understanding that they should go to Bermudians who are qualified to do them.

Far too often when people claim that a Bermudian has been deprived of a job they are really saying that the Bermudian should have been given the job without the qualifications to do the job. Therein lies the problem.

Bermuda has done remarkably well in preparing people to take jobs in the international sector. However those businesses are sophisticated and complex and require talented and trained employees. It is highly doubtful that tiny Bermuda will ever be able to supply a full roster of employees. Yet these businesses have to be staffed and if Bermuda prevents them from staffing to their satisfaction they will leave to the great detriment of those Bermudians who are employed.

We are not saying that there are no Bermudians who have problems getting jobs for which they are qualified but we think there are relatively few and that they are often denied jobs because of their own personality problems.

Anyone who has any experience with work permits knows that it is far easier, far cheaper and far less hassle to hire a Bermudian if you can find a qualified Bermudian. In fact, we think many companies make do with some Bermudians who are not entirely satisfactory simply because it is the easy way to proceed, financially and politically.

Mr. Ezekiel was quoted as saying, "...most employers will jump at the opportunity to hire a suitably qualified Bermudian for any post that comes available. There is absolutely no reason why they shouldn't from the point of view of convenience, speed, longevity and cost.'' What Bermuda has to guard against are those people, and we do not think there are many, who find ways to refuse qualified Bermudians and seek employees from abroad simply because they prefer overseas employees or find them easier to control. There are indications that this happens in the restaurant and hotel sector because we all know of non-Bermudian waiters or bartenders who are clearly without experience or training. It may also happen in some other areas where people in power seek ways to find jobs in Bermuda for their friends.

But too often there is a public assumption that there is a great plot to deprive Bermudians of jobs. There is simply no evidence of that. Yet we go on listening to the prophets of doom who would have us assume that Bermudians are routinely deprived of jobs. Again, there is no evidence.

Instead we should proceed under the assumption that the work permit system functions rather well and that a good deal is done to protect Bermudians. From there we should make sure that abuses of the system are not tolerated and that those Bermudians who think they are deprived get a fair hearing.