Bermuda's replacement US Consul General Vin Gupta has snubbed the Island in favour of a Pacific paradise, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The man set to take over from Robert Farmer this year is to go to Fiji as US Ambassador instead of becoming the American representative on the Island.

US Consulate General staffer Bruce Berton yesterday confirmed the hunt was on again for a new US diplomatic presence.

He said: "Mr. Gupta is going to Fiji to be Ambassador.'' And he added: "Unless they find someone who is already in a Federal position, they will have to go through the whole clearance process again.'' Mr. Berton added that Mr. Farmer -- currently off the Island -- is now expected to be in Bermuda "at least until the fall.'' And he said it was "possible'' a replacement candidate for Mr. Gupta could be lined up by the last quarter of the year. Mr. Gupta -- a wealthy businessman from Omaha, Nebraska -- was first tipped as the new US Consul General more than a year ago.

Mr. Farmer even held a church service last year to bid farewell to Bermuda and expected to leave the Island at the start of last December.

He was appointed in 1994. The State Department ruled he was to serve for three years and he was originally slated to quit Bermuda last August.

But a series of postponements -- blamed on bureaucratic delays in getting Mr.

Gupta's appointment approved -- meant Mr. Farmer stayed on until the newcomer's appointment was processed.

Now, however, Mr. Gupta, an Indian-American and a top executive with American Business Information in Omaha, Nebraska, will go elsewhere as an Ambassador -- a step up the diplomatic ladder from a Consul General's post.

Mr. Gupta could not be contacted for comment yesterday. The White House press office did not return a call from The Royal Gazette .

The Bermuda posting currently comes with Chelston, a luxury mansion in Paget, complete with private beach and beach house, set amid 14 acres of beautifully manicured grounds -- and membership of all the Island's golf courses.

But The Royal Gazette revealed in November last year that the US Government was set to put the official residence up for sale as part of a cost-cutting exercise and move the Consul General to a smaller, cheaper house. Mr. Berton said that he still expected Chelston, worth at least $15 million, to be sold off -- but that the plan was "in a bit of a holding pattern.'' He added: "All the information we could possibly pass on to the State Department has been passed on.

"We were asked for some additional information last week and they are deliberating now, I hope for the last time.'' State Department house-hunters have already visited at least 20 properties considered suitable potential homes for a US Consul General.

Mr. Berton said: "The last I heard, they were planning to come down and have another look.''