been required to write the same foreign licensing board exams being demanded of an ousted Government Veterinarian trainee.

"Please be advised all veterinarians currently in practice on the Island -- `Europeans' included -- were fully licensed to practise by the registration authority in the respective countries where they trained,'' read an unsigned faxed statement to The Royal Gazette .

Vets deny licence claims "Any allegations to the contrary are incorrect.'' The fax is in reaction to statements in support of Dr. Smith which appeared in Wednesday's issue of The Royal Gazette , alleging some of the Island's European-trained vets were not required to write the same registered licensing board exams that have so far stymied Dr. Smith.

Her contract with Personnel Services was terminated on April 4 after she failed on four occasions to pass an American licensing board exam.

The fax includes information on ten Bermuda-based veterinarians, including where they were educated and where they received their licences to practise.

Of that list, six Bermudian vets are indicated as having received their Doctorate of Veterinarian Medicine either in the UK, Europe, or Canada.

Three have been licenced in Canada, two in the UK, and one in Germany, the fax reveals.

The Bermuda Public Services Association, which is appealing to the Governor, Lord Waddington, on behalf of Dr. Smith, has said nowhere is it written in law that a Bermuda-based vet be required to complete such an examination.

But one veterinarian speaking anonymously told The Royal Gazette it has been a 35-year convention that those wishing to practice here hold credentials from a larger jurisdiction.

"Because Bermuda is so small it really doesn't have its own institute of certification,'' the vet said. "We rely heavily on the process of overseas registration to set a professional standard. This situation is like getting your law degree but never passing your Bar exam.'' HEALTH HTH