a job in favour of a foreign worker at the Marriott's Castle Harbour resort are "simply false,'' management claimed yesterday.

And Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman told The Royal Gazette that he was satisfied that the process used to hire the foreign worker was managed correctly.

This comes four days after Shadow Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott accused the hotel of hiring a Canadian, Ms Christine Marshall, to a management position over a more qualified Bermudian, Mrs. Flavia Lambe.

Mr. Scott said Ms Marshall came to Bermuda in 1992 and worked as a trainee manager in the Mikado restaurant.

He said that at the time Bermudians protested her hiring and sent a letter to the Minister.

"This goes right to the heart of the reason why the hotel industry is being de-Bermudianised,'' he said. "It is almost impossible for parents to get young people to go into the hotel industry when they see a competent professional like Mrs. Lambe slamming into the glass ceiling.

"If management want to infuse new ideas they could have made Ms Marshall Mrs.

Lambe's assistant. You cannot replace her, especially given her experience.'' But in a statement released yesterday, the hotel's manager Mr. Roger Borsink said the position was discussed with Mrs. Lambe and it was also publicly advertised within the hotel and in the newspapers.

"The maitre d'hotel (Mrs. Lambe),'' the statement read, "chose not to apply for the position.

"The allegation made by Mr. Scott that the maitre d'hotel was not given an opportunity to apply is simply false.'' Mr. Scott refused to back down from his charges. He said his information was "as reliable as it could ever be''.

Furthermore, he would be appraising his colleague and Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen of the situation so that he too could find a resolution.

On Monday rumours were circulating that some dining staff had walked off the job in a show of solidarity for Mrs. Lambe.

However, when The Royal Gazette visited Marriott's Windsor dining room later that morning, there seemed to be no disruption of service.

One worker said no-one walked off the job and there were no problems.

Attempts to speak to Mrs. Lambe were unsuccessful.

Marriott general manager Mr. Roger Borsink said his company was merely filling a job that had been vacant for several years.

And with Ms Marshall's hiring they were now introducing the position to the dining room's staff in more detail.

This he said, included training, customer satisfaction, financial responsibility and controls.

It would also complement the maitre d's position within the existing structure, he said.