Bermuda Industrial Union that the resort was being run by "foreign management'' and there were only "menial'' jobs for Bermudians.

The managing director demanded the Bermuda Industrial Union get its facts straight, saying its statements were "unpardonable''.

He said the hotel was currently training five Bermudians for senior positions and numerous others held top jobs at the hotel.

He was responding to statements made by the BIU concerning seven laundry supervisors made redundant this week in a reorganisation of the department.

"I think it's time the BIU was held accountable for statements it makes publicly,'' Mr. Boyd said.

"I know the employees of this hotel are very upset over its accusations.'' The BIU's statements, made in a Press release on Thursday night after a meeting with Sonesta staff, were "misleading and untrue'', he said.

"They were said only to try and create problems in a hotel where they don't exist,'' Mr. Boyd said. "And they were not fair on the people who work in the hotel and have helped create its success in Bermudianisation.'' Mr. Boyd further assailed the union over its demands that the seven supervisors be placed on a hiring list and given preference for "higher status'' jobs.

"I don't need to be told by the union that I need to give them an opportunity to apply for other jobs in the hotel,'' he said. "We already have and in a very caring way. Every supervisor made redundant was given the opportunity to apply for any position open.'' Mr. Boyd said so far one of the supervisors had asked for a job as a maid, "who quite frankly makes more than a supervisor''.

Denying union claims that their jobs were not really made redundant, and that foreigners were taking them over, he said the seven employees were "victims'' of a reorganisation.

"We were reorganising the housekeeping department and decided to create seven new management positions to push up the standard of our housekeeping in the hotel. But those jobs are not the same as the supervisors' jobs. They are heavy on training programmes and other different jobs.'' The seven supervisors did not have the qualifications for those jobs. The union had claimed the seven workers reported they were left bitter over "the fact foreign management seem to (have) secured their jobs and acted with disdain, disrespect and contempt for local workers''.

"The supervisors are, therefore, calling upon the Bermuda community to take the necessary action to put an end to the hostile attitude of foreign management towards Bermudian labour,'' the statement said.

Written by an unnamed union official, it warned a further meeting over the redundancies was planned for next Tuesday morning at BIU headquarters.

And it said it was noted during the meeting that the hotel industry would have to be made more attractive and more meaningful for Bermudians, and offer more job security to local workers.

"Otherwise the hotels will be monopolised by foreign owners and foreign managers and leave locals to do menial tasks.'' But Mr. Boyd insisted his hotel had taken great strides in training Bermudians and promoting them.

"Over the last few years, numerous ex-patriates have been replaced with Bermudians or spouses of Bermudians,'' he said.

The list of Bermudians in management positions included the food and beverage director and the controller, the human resources director, the chief accountant, auditors, maitre-ds, receptionists, reservations manager, assistant front office manager, administrative assistants, refrigeration foremen, shift engineers, electricians and gardeners.

Five senior Bermudian staff were currently being trained within their departments by their ex-patriate managers to eventually take over their positions.