Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy has been accused by the Bermuda Entertainment Union (BEU) of railroading impending legislative changes without heeding the input of local artists.

The BEU was “not consulted, but simply pacified”, according union president Leroy Simmons, who said the group only learned accidentally that a review of work permit policies had been under way.

Mr Simmons’s remarks come on the eve of new regulations that rescind the requirement that local entertainers be hired whenever overseas acts perform.

He said the “vast majority” of quality local entertainers could not find consistent work.

“Some are about to lose their homes; many are challenged to put food on the table for their families; there are others who can’t afford to put their vehicles on the road, and some who are forced to take on other jobs that demean their purpose in life.”

The union and Senator Fahy have remained at loggerheads over the new work permit policies due to take effect on March 1, and particularly over the amount of local entertainers included in the Bermuda Festival.

Mr Simmons branded the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s sponsorship of the Festival “an example of Bermudian money more favourably used to support non-Bermudians”. He said that Sen Fahy’s statement earlier this month that the BTA had arranged for local entertainers to play on visiting cruise ships “totally irrelevant” to the Festival issue.

The BEU has also repeatedly accused Sen Fahy of snubbing efforts to meet with him.

Another point of friction has been the right of the union to collect the traveller’s fees of overseas artists. Under the new regime, the Department of Immigration will no longer assist with collecting them.

“The minister acknowledges the right for the BEU to collect traveller’s dues for foreign entertainment, but appears determined to make this process more difficult by not redirecting promoters and event planners of all foreign entertainers to the BEU prior to Immigration processing temporary work permits,” Mr Simmons said, adding that a key part of the BEU’s vetting process was to consult the International Unfair List.

The list is maintained by the American Federation of Musicians and is updated monthly.

“For over two years, the minister has promised better dialogue with the BEU prior to certain decisions being made,” Mr Simmons said. “However, to date he has yet to honour his promise.”