Life has dramatically changed pace for Larry Mussenden who, two months ago, was in the heart of Government as a young, reforming Attorney General in Alex Scott's Cabinet.

Despite his zeal and energy in introducing a number of reforms to Bermuda's creaking criminal justice system he suddenly found himself out of a job after Ewart Brown became Premier.

In spite of the setback Mr. Mussenden, who also lost his Senate seat, is by no means done with politics and will need all his political skills in his new job as Bermuda College Chairman, which he took on late last month.

Mr. Mussenden is the fourth Chairman this year. Former PLP Senator Raymond Tannock was still at the helm at the start of 2006 but was replaced by Nalton Brangman, who was sacked nine months later while in the middle of an investigation into college spending ordered by the Government's Public Accounts Committee.

Mr. Brangman's successor was former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith but she stood down after less than three weeks in the job.

And the Bermuda College has repeatedly hit the headlines in recent weeks due to a string of allegations about financial mismanagement as well as perks apparently enjoyed by its president Charles Green.

Mr. Mussenden is now poring over the College's strategic plan and minutes of meetings and PR initiatives to see the direction in which the college should go.But he refused to comment on the Dr. Green controversy. "I am not in the position to comment on them because I don't know."

He is however more forthcoming on how he sees the College developing.

Mr. Mussenden is no stranger to Bermuda College — it helped him on his way when he did a business data processing course back in 1982. "That was at the old Roberts Avenue campus — the classrooms were probably about 12 by 12."

Since then the College has moved site and developed a sprawling campus as it copes with the multi-functions it must perform.

Mr. Mussenden, who also served for one-year on the college board, says as the community college for Bermuda it must be performing many roles — it must meet the needs of industry, get people accepted into college overseas and help people retrain.

"Bermudians have had a long and wonderful love affair with the old technical institute." And Mr. Mussenden believes there is plenty of opportunity for studying trades at the College. "We have to identify the trades and vocations where there is a need for people — one of the ways is to see how many work permits are being issued to people in our trade areas."

A brief chat with the Labour Minister and Permanent Secretary has shown the need for drywall technicians, auto mechanics and body workers, said Mr. Mussenden.

"I know employers would want Bermudians in those jobs rather than go through the expense and hassle of hiring overseas. You can't tell me we don't have a large group of young Bermudian males who can't strip a bike engine, fix it, and fix the body work on a car and spray it. We can do that."

"Drywalling for instance. I don't think there are many Bermudians in the industry but every building down town which needs to reconfigure its office space needs to have dry wall technicians. There should be Bermudians running to the drywalling business." Continued input from industry to improve technical training is welcomed. "Industry and the College cannot stand apart."

He also cites a need for a journalism training course and urged the media houses to work with the Bermuda College to devise a programme for budding Bermudian journalists.

"Why should the TV news or the stories we read have bylines from expatriate journalists when in fact Bermuda could produce some fine journalists if we concentrated on it?

"I challenge the editors of the print media and the electronic media to meet with me to work out those requirements and work out any problems."

Mr. Mussenden also says a core college function is allowing people to retool for another career or to let them advance in their chosen one. "Everybody should be able to come here and find there is a course or programme to allow them to improve their lot in life. From what I have been told there will be online courses available, that the college is open practically seven days a week, that there are resources available 24 hours a day online and that it's an exciting and vibrant place. I think there is a great story to be told here and I think the great story is being told." He said there was no need for people to think they couldn't get ahead because they didn't have a skillset.

Recently social campaigner Sheelagh Cooper complained that Government would not pay financial assistance for those wanting to study as they needed to prove they were looking for work.

Mr. Mussenden pledged to do his very best to help. "In relation to those who are poor — if they are able to show up to the College and get signed up to a programme and they make it known they have financial problems I find it very difficult that, with the resources available to the College and Government and to people generally, they would be turned away from a course that is going to improve their lot in life. If those people are out there they need to make themselves known to get some assistance. I will do by best to ensure anyone who wants a course which will lead them to a better job or lot in life will get it." Mr. Mussenden believes students who complete their associate's degree in Bermuda and who go off to other schools perform to a higher standard than kids from Bermuda who don't have that preparation. He said the two-year associates degree was the best of both worlds in that it allowed students to start their studies at home before launching out in the world. I believe our students should go overseas for part of their education so they can experience the university of life — away from Bermuda, their home and comfort of their parents — and explore the world. You make friends from all over the world you will keep for a lifetime. That's the beauty of going overseas. But it doesn't mean we can't have a another kind of programme to offer a four-year degree for people who can't get overseas."

Four-year degrees are already on offer and Bermuda's position as the insurance capital of the world has bred the right conditions for offering degrees in that booming sector, believes Mr. Mussenden. "All of the expertise worldwide is resident right down in Hamilton. So the Bermuda College should be able to offer a four-year degree in insurance and reinsurance because why would everyone come here for their insurance needs but people have to go somewhere else to study it?

"One of those four years could be spent overseas at another university somewhere. The industry leaders down town could be involved in the college programme by giving guidance, consultation and even giving lectures and presentations."

Asked about Bermuda's declining birth rate he said the Bermuda College could be the college of choice for people overseas.

"Particularly in the insurance field and hotel and hospitality. Bermuda is a leader in tourism — look at the hotels that are coming online."

Mr. Mussenden is clearly keen to show he is eager to get involved with College life — he chooses a spot in the courtyard for his interview with The Royal Gazette and when conditions become too blustery for the reporter, moves to the cafeteria.

The interview is punctuated with various chats with passing students including some from CedarBridge and even some from Gilbert.

Asked how long he intends to remain at the helm he points out: "I serve at the pleasure of the Minister so it is not really for me to comment on the period of service."

A fair point for someone who has just fallen foul to the vagaries of political fortune. Not that he is looking for sympathy.

"Going into the match, I knew the rules." And he said during his near three-year term he had repeatedly reminded staff he could be removed at any moment with little or no warning.

"It was an exciting time politically in the lead up to Dr. Brown stepping down, the campaigning for the election and the announcement of the new Cabinet. I had my boxes packed on the Friday of the election. I had my staff pack up my office. I couldn't predict the outcome but I was ready."

Out of office, but still greatly involved