Opposition Leader Kim Swan, last night, lambasted Premier Dr. Ewart Brown over his apparent "pro-American bias" that was hurting Bermudian workers.

Mr. Swan was speaking after what he said was a string of decisions that showed clear bias towards American companies rather than Bermudian workers citing the contract with Kurron Shares to consult on the hospital and the recent announcement about the North American sales operations being outsourced.

He said it was a clear indication the Premier's decisions did not support Bermudian workers and that the Government needed to stop the anti-Bermuda drift.

"It is clear to us that this Government, led by Premier Brown, has little faith in the Bermudian worker and Bermudian know-how.

"We believe the Premier has a pro-American bias that is working against the people of this island. We see it manifested in the ongoing outsourcing of jobs, the massive reliance on overseas, mostly US-based consultants and in numerous service contracts with American companies.

"What is at work here, whether official policy or not, is a pattern of decision that is fundamentally anti-Bermudian and anti-union in nature.

"This makes no sense to us and we call on everyone to step forward and fight this anti-Bermudian drift."

In the most recent case of outsourcing New York staff were given five weeks' notice of their redundancies after Cabinet agreed to outsource sales to US firm Sales Focus.

Their American replacements will be sent to Bermuda for training.

Following several days of anger over the move, the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones issued a statement on Wednesday night saying 17 out of its 25 posts would be retained. Of the other eight, Mr. Jones said some had applied for jobs, interviews had been conducted and offers made.

And last year Kurron Shares entered an $11 million contract with the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) to recruit healthcare administrators as well as helping with modernising the hospital wards.

The contract was severely criticised by opponents and even the Health watchdog, the Bermuda Health Council, revealed they did not back the choice of consultant companies.

Last night Mr. Swan said outsourcing of these jobs should be a concern for everyone and showed that the Government had no faith in the people.

He added: "What is going on here should be a concern to every Bermudian who cares about our country and our fellow citizens.

"This Government needs to be challenged in their thinking because it appears we have a Government of the people with no faith in the people.

"We need to build our human capital, not diminish it. But that is exactly what the PLP Government is doing."