The executive officer of the National Training Board (NTB) is set to resume his duties today for the first time in five months after a financial probe cleared him of wrongdoing.

Michael Stowe was suspended last September amid allegations of financial irregularities — a move he claims was illegal and in breach of Public Service Commission regulations.

He was told in a letter yesterday from Permanent Secretary for Labour and Immigration Robert Horton that he had been "completely exonerated" after a four-month investigation by the internal audit section of the Accountant General's Department.

Speaking last night, Mr. Stowe, 58, said he would not sue Government over the matter, despite "severe damage to my professional reputation" and the belief he could claim seven-figure compensation.

However, he called for a probe into the circumstances that led to him being suspended from the NTB, which offers technical and vocational training to Bermudians, and alleged it had been left in a shambles.

"I have a lot of respect for the Bermuda Civil Service.

"As a senior civil servant I would hate to think any of my colleagues would have to experience something like this," he told The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Stowe, who claims the decision to place him on "administrative leave" was imposed by the Permanent Secretary for Education Rosemary Tyrrell, continued: "When things like this happen it's important for the Civil Service to look inwardly. How did it happen, and how can we prevent something like this happening in future?

"I have no sense of malice, no sense of vengeance. It's extremely important that it (the civil service) maintains its sense of decency."

Mr. Stowe said he had "compete confidence" in the Civil Service to address the issue, adding that the public had a right to know how his suspension and re-instatement came to pass.

The Education Minister in charge of the NTB at the time of the suspension, Neletha Butterfield, did not respond to questions about the matter last night.

The Ministry of Labour subsequently took on responsibility for the NTB, but Minister Derrick Burgess declined to comment on the suspension saying: "I was not there when that happened." Head of the Civil Service, Kenneth Dill, could not be reached.

Asked about previous reports he had engaged a lawyer and was considering suing Government, Mr. Stowe said there was no financial settlement involved in his return to work.

"It was suggested to me that I could acquire a settlement from this. However, I am not interested in a six-figure settlement. I'm not interested in a seven-figure settlement. My only interest is to return to my post and finish the work of the NTB," he said.

Mr. Stowe, who joined the organisation in 2000, said his long-term absence had a damaging impact and "the National Training Board is in a shambles".

With inexperienced staff left to cope alone, he said, programme design, development, implementation and evaluation all suffered, with a negative impact on the management of trainees overseas. He said he had been working on an action plan with Mr. Horton and chairman of the NTB Herman Tucker as the probe wound up to get the organisation back on track.

Asked about the personal impact of what had happened, he said: "To be honest, it's run the whole gamut of emotions. A bit of anger, a bit of disappointment, certainly a sense of personal embarrassment."

Of his return to work, he said: "I'm excited. I look forward to it. I think without a doubt I will hit the ground running. I'm looking forward to getting the NTB back to its original position as probably the most successful of the Government agencies."

He added that he anticipated a female administrative officer suspended at the same time as him would also return to her post soon.

Mr. Horton said in a press statement yesterday: "We are delighted that Mr. Stowe is back at work and look forward to continued success as the NTB fulfils its critically important mandate to the people of Bermuda."

Stowe cleared of any wrongdoing