Accountant Vance Campbell pledged to try to restore public confidence in the scandal-hit Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) yesterday as he was unveiled as new general manager of the quango.

Mr. Campbell will take over in March on a three-year contract, replacing former general manager Raymonde Dill, who was sacked in August.

A certified public accountant with a bachelor's degree in business management, Mr. Campbell is currently vice-president and financial controller of "a local firm associated with the construction industry," but he would not disclose its name.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr. Campbell said: "There will be challenges and I realise one of the top priorities will be restoring public confidence in the Corporation, and with the team that is in place, that will be one of the main targets."

Senator David Burch, who took over from Nelson Bascome as Housing Minister in October and immediately introduced a series of reforms to tighten up purchasing and accountability at the corporation, said Mr. Vance would continue the process of steering the troubled corporation back on track.

He said Mr. Vance was one of five people short-listed from 20 applicants for the job.

He takes over from Deborah Blakeney of the Tax Commissioner's Office, who has been acting general manager of BHC since August - following Mr. Dill's sacking.

"I am very pleased that Mr. Campbell will now head up what I consider to be an excellent team at BHC," said Sen Burch yesterday.

"I am confident that he will provide the experienced leadership that the corporation needs and deserves.

"He is quite aware that he has his work cut out for him and that it will be a demanding, but also rewarding job.

"We believe that this is another step in the right direction to keep Bermuda Housing Corporation on a proper footing so that it is well positioned to carry out its mandate."

Sen. Burch said making affordable housing available to the middle classes, not just those on low income, was part of BHC's mandate.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Omnibus, an independent quarterly report compiled by Total Marketing and Communications, found 67 percent of residents believe Government should bear responsibility for meeting the Island's housing needs.

Five percent felt local businesses should take care, three percent international business, two percent Government and international business, and 15 percent thought "all of the above".