An independent probe into strife at Bermuda College should be held, Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said yesterday.

Mr. Smith spoke out after a staff/student protest called for the resignation of College chairman Randy Horton and president George Cook.

And the call came on the day the College board put on a show of unity -- and promised to iron out problems at the Stonington campus.

Mr. Smith said the protest "suggests to me that there are some real issues that need to be resolved''.

He added: "It is imperative that somebody in a leadership position display some courage.'' And Mr. Smith insisted: "Ultimately, the buck stops with the Premier. It is the Premier who speaks for education in the House of Assembly and it is the Premier who appointed the Minister of Education, the board chairman and, indeed, all the members of the board.

"Given the recent history, we believe the best way forward is for the Premier to establish an independent board of inquiry to look into the problems at the College.

"This way, we believe the College retains its credibility and, equally, the public is reassured that the College is focussing on its core mission and that is to educate its students.'' But Mr. Horton dismissed the call -- and said an inquiry was not needed.

He added: "I think that's jumping the gun. We have things in place, we're trying to do a management audit, for example.

"It will be less formal and a much wider opportunity for people at the College to express their feelings.

"And we will get as a result of that a knowledge of whether we are operating the College in the manner it should be.'' Call for independent inquiry Mr. Smith said: "How the College functions, its capacity to educate and its success will be continuously scrutinised by the public.

"The students themselves want to be sure that they made a good decision in selecting the Bermuda College.

"The faculty and staff know of their enormous responsibility to the community and parents and businesses are relying on the College to do its part in enabling students to be successful, productive citizens. Threats and disruptions to the functioning of the College need to be addressed quickly.

"The protest calling for the resignations of both the chairman of the board and president of the college is but one incident in a continuing series of problems at the College.

"Bermuda wants to see it succeed and needs to see it succeed.''