A probe into the firing of a Bermudian hotel executive has been launched, Labour Minister Paula Cox revealed yesterday.

Ms Cox spoke out after Southampton Princess human resources manager Elaine Charles was sacked by Canadian Pacific last week.

And yesterday National Liberal Party chairman Charles Jeffers backed an inquiry into Ms Charles' axing.

He said: "It is our understanding that the dismissal came without prior warnings for performance or conduct.

"We do not know the full story behind Ms Charles case. We urge the Minister of Labour to launch an investigation into this matter to ascertain whether or not the action of the Canadian Pacific management was justified.'' Mr. Jeffers added that "there is some speculation'' that Ms Charles had been axed to make way for a Canadian Pacific pick to fill "this sensitive position''.

Yesterday Southampton Princess general manager Norm Mastilar denied Ms Charles had been pushed out for someone else.

He said: "That's absolutely not the case -- this has nothing to do with Canadian Pacific wanting to bring anyone in in terms of this position.'' Mr. Mastilar declined to comment on why Ms Charles had been shown the door.

Mr. Jeffers also called on Government to consider making human resources a closed category of employment: "The NLP is not against non-Bermudian workers, neither do we trivialise the importance and contributions of non-Bermudians in our workforce.'' But he added: "However, many times there is a level of discomfort or suspicion if Bermudians are not given jobs that ultimately go to foreigners.

"This is intensified when the person doing the hiring is a non-Bermudian.'' Mr. Jeffers said: "The Bermudian public needs to be assured that Bermudians are not losing or being denied jobs for unjust reasons.'' Ms Charles has been at the hotel for nine years. Canadian Pacific bought over the chain from the UK Lonrho group last autumn.

Hotel insiders said Ms Charles -- who recently prepared a "vision statement'' at the request of the new owners -- had been axed because her views were at odds with the new management.

Ms Cox said the Labour Relations Officer had already begun to investigate the firing.

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