Government's full-time veterinarian.

Dr. Smith -- whose contract as a trainee was controversially ended in April after she failed a US licensing examination three times -- is among the applicants for the full-time post which was recently advertised.

The position, last held by Dr. Neil Burnie who resigned in September, 1996, was set to be filled by Dr. Smith.

However, Dr. Smith's contract with Personnel Services was not renewed in April after she failed to meet the expectations of her contract.

It emerged later that Dr. Smith -- who holds a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Alabama's Tuskegee University -- was let go after she failed on four occasions to pass a US-based licensing board exam.

Yesterday, Dr. Smith confirmed to The Royal Gazette that she had applied for the recently advertised position as Government Veterinary officer.

And she said she had received a standard Government letter acknowledging that her application had been received.

Meanwhile, Government officials remained tightlipped on whether Dr. Smith had made another bid for a job in Agriculture and Fisheries.

Assistant director Kevin Monkman refused to say if Dr. Smith reapplied for the job.

"It is not proper for me to say if she applied,'' Mr. Monkman said.

But he admitted a few locals had applied for the job as well as some individuals from overseas.

Mr. Monkman said that a departmental recommendation will be sent to the Public Service Commission by the end of this week.

This will be followed by an interview process for possible candidates.

Russ Ford, a friend of Dr. Smith, told The Royal Gazette that he preferred not to give too many details about the situation.

But he said that as far as he was aware, Dr. Smith had indeed applied for the Government Veterinary Officer position.

Mr. Ford said the advertisement for the position was different from the 1993 ad.

The 1993 wording allegedly said that the candidate had to be a graduate veterinarian from an accredited school.

The new advertisement said a qualified veterinarian with a certificate enabling him or her to practise veterinary science in Bermuda.

And although he said the words were only "subtly'' changed, Mr. Ford said the intent was "very grave''.