OPPOSITION United Bermuda party leader Kim Swan last night expressed concern at what he described as an increasingly "pro-American bias" by Government when awarding contracts.

Reacting to the news that yet another US company is being drafted in to take over Bermudian jobs, Mr. Swan (pictured) said the move demonstrated an increasingly anti-Bermudian position by Government and Premier Ewart Brown in particular.

"It is clear to us that this Government, led by Premier Brown, has little faith in the Bermudian worker and Bermudian know-how. In too many instances, we see his government making decisions that do not support and enhance the interests of the workers," Mr. Swan said.

"We believe the Premier has a pro-American bias that is working against the people of this island. We see it manifested in the ongoing outsourcing of jobs, the massive reliance on overseas, mostly US-based consultants and in numerous service contracts with American companies. What is at work here, whether official policy or not, is a pattern of decision that is fundamentally anti-Bermudian and anti-union in nature.

"The road to this point is long and increasingly inexplicable. We cite as one milestone on that road the multi-year contract with Kurron Shares of the United States, in which Bermuda handed over virtually all management responsibilities at the hospital to American consultants.

"In that instance, we have to ask, 'Since when did Bermuda lose the ability to manage our own hospital? Who made the judgment that we as a people were not up to the task? The same, we believe, is happening in education.

"Last week's announcement of the decision to hand over Bermuda's North American sales operations to a US firm is another example of decisions that reflect no faith in Bermudians. Today, we learn the Health Ministry is to outsource administrative jobs to yet another American firm.

"What is going on here should be a concern to every Bermudian who cares about our country and our fellow citizens. This Government needs to be challenged in its thinking because it appears we have a Government of the people with no faith in the people.

"We need to build our human capital, not diminish it. But that is exactly what the PLP Government is doing. By handing over management and administrative responsibilities in key areas of Bermudian life to outsiders, we are depriving our people of vital experience and knowledge and weakening our national fabric and our national strength to stand on our own two feet in the future.

"This makes no sense to us and we call on everyone to step forward and fight this anti-Bermudian drift."