The Bermuda Police Service has already earmarked a foreign applicant to become the new manager of technical services and that is why no Bermudian has been hired, Shadow Labour Minister Alex Scott charged last night.

But Director of Personnel Services Mrs. Judith Hall-Bean yesterday moved to denied the allegation and said six Bermudians had applied for the position and two were interviewed.

But she said neither applicant fulfilled all the advertised requirements which was why none were selected.

"The post calls for a mixture of telecommunications and computer skills so that they can supervise the operations and maintenance and back up of the Force Communications network,'' she said.

"The problem is that it requires a mixture. We not only need someone who has computer experience and qualifications. They must also have radio communications experience and qualifications and we just did not get anyone who had the mixture.'' Mrs. Hall-Bean said Government then began an overseas search for a suitable person and has placed the advertisement in the Globe and Mail and in the London Times.

Mr. Scott meanwhile took issue with entire process.

He said: "We know it went through the cursory requirement of advertising once or twice or three times in Bermuda.

"But if the Police Service is really committed to putting a Bermudian in place, they would have an exhaustive search of Bermuda. This means if they do not have someone now and they have to advertise elsewhere, simultaneously they should continue the ads here.

"They should be seen to be continuing their search for someone locally.'' Mr. Scott said past experience had shown Bermudians being rejected for jobs because the employer already "is committed elsewhere''.