and window and office cleaners.

These jobs have been mainly held by non-Bermudians, particularly those from the Azores.

But now an increasing number of Bermudians are available to do them, Government claims.

This is because many Bermudians have lost jobs with the shrinking of the recession-hit construction industry.

Yesterday Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said a jobs policy review was under way.

Over the next few weeks he will be meeting employers of landscape gardeners and office and window cleaners.

And a policy statement was likely in a month, said Mr. Pearman.

Government's move follows a fierce work permits controversy involving West End landscape gardeners.

Progressive Labour Party MPs and senators fear permits for non-Bermudians were given to M & C Landscaping, while local workers lost out. The firm is carrying out work for the West End Development Corporation.

In the Senate this week Government was asked to confirm or deny Bermudian employees from the Works and Engineering Ministry had been told their jobs would be "terminated'' or "phased out''.

Opposition Senate leader Sen. Alex Scott pressed for answers at the next Senate hearing.

Earlier, in the House of Assembly, Works Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto hit out at claims Wedco would be privatising its landscaping and firing gardeners.

The claims had been made by Opposition Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen.

Yesterday, however, Mr. Pearman said the controversy was unrelated to the policy review.

Government was always looking at areas where Bermudians could benefit, he stressed. With the "draw-down in the economy'' new opportunities were now available.

"We feel these are job categories in which more and more Bermudians are showing the training and aptitude for.

"It will help us to absorb such people into the workforce who have been in the construction industry heretofore.

"Primarily these jobs have been done by non-Bermudians for many, many years ... mostly by Azoreans, but also a large number from Latin America.

"I believe what we are doing is in the best interests of Bermudians and the Country.'' Mr. Pearman said "some kind of restriction'' of work permits was envisaged.

But the details of the proposed new policy would be worked out with the help of employers.

"I will be meeting with companies involved in landscape gardening and office cleaning to try and formulate a policy.''