Bermuda Government would receive full pay while representing the Island at the all-important ICC Tournament in Malaysia in March. And there was some indication that a decision favouring the players would be reached soon.

Skipper Albert Steede and Arnold Manders, both schoolteachers, have been advised by Chief Education Officer Dr. Joseph Christopher that they will not be paid, having already received the maximum amount of representative leave for the Shell/Sandals tour to Guyana in October. Two other employees of Government, Bruce Perinchief and Roger Trott, are believed to be facing a similar dilemma. Manders, earlier this week, publicly stated that he could not afford to lose up to five weeks' salary because of mortgage commitments.

However, Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey has moved swiftly to sort out the matter, following up on his promise to send a letter to new Sports Minister, Dr. David Dyer. Youth and Sports Director Brenton Roberts yesterday confirmed that the letter had been received and that steps were being taken "to sort things out''. Roberts agreed that matters pertaining to the payment of national team players working within Government and major companies such as the Bermuda Telephone Company, had been well documented in the 1995 Sir John Sharpe Board of Inquiry report. But he indicated that Government's stand on the issue had not changed over the years.

"The BCBC have made representations to the Ministry and indeed to the Minister concerning the circumstances regarding Mr. Manders and Mr. Steede and the Ministry is actively pursuing the request of the BCBC with Government authorities,'' said Roberts. "We have had a long standing policy of support of national teams even before the Sharpe Commission Report, and we are just reassessing that policy that has been in place for many, many years to ensure that everyone is in compliance with it.'' The Government policy, highlighted in the Sharpe report, states: "An officer, having completed 12 months continuous service, may be granted, at the discretion of the Secretary to the Cabinet, special leave with full pay for the purpose of taking part in international meetings of recognised philanthropic organisations or in sporting events of international significance, or those in which Bermuda is represented. Such leave shall not exceed the number of days required for the actual event and for travelling to and from the place arranged for that event.'' The Bermuda Telephone Company's policy states: "Any person competing as an athlete may be granted one period of paid leave per calendar year, provided the event is a recognised International Competition where two or more countries will be participating. Persons wishing leave will be required to obtain a written application from their National Federation confirming participation at least two weeks prior to the said event. "Consideration will only be given to persons competing in sports having a National Federation recognised by the Department of Youth and Sport or the national Olympic Committee. "The company recognises that it is healthy to promote the development of those physical and moral qualities which are the basis of sport. Providing such a policy helps our employees build better understanding or our support for their sporting activities.'' PHOTO ARNOLD MANDERS (top) -- stands to lose five weeks' wages on tour to Malaysia.