Since Ewart Brown took over as Premier Government has taken a harder line with employers and work permit holders. Here are some key moments.

October: Ewart Brown becomes Premier.

January: Top chef Anthony Reynolds, of Elbow Beach, is booted of the island after allegations he joked about putting arsenic in a meal prepared for Premier Ewart Brown. Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess said it was "tantamount to threatening an act of terrorism, a criminal act of a most heinous nature."

February: In the Budget presentation Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess launches a hardline. He promises a new policy would be introduced, particularly in the construction industry, to ensure an apprentice is hired for a specific number of work permits issued.

And he said existing immigration policies will be strictly strictly enforced, including:

* Ensuring when there are lay-offs or redundancies, Bermudians are the last to be laid off or made redundant

* Ensuring that employers adhere to the rule that Bermudians are always hired first before other categories of resident, including spouses of Bermudians and Permanent Resident Certificate holders

* Ensuring that employers when granted a work permit for one type of job, resist the urge to use that employee for additional jobs that could otherwise be filled by a Bermudian

February: Derrick Burgess urges foreigners not to speak out about Bermudian politics as he attacks internet blogger Philip Wells who ran the now defunct Limey in Bermuda website. And he revokes a work permit held by Canadian construction boss Curtis Macloud who had an angry row with BIU official and Government MP George Scott. A court later overturns that decision.

April: Premier Ewart Brown announces Government will bring in curbs on single and childless foreigners owning cars with a law which will also limit the amount of cars available to expatriates in companies holding more than ten work permits.

June: Government passes a law barring Bermudians with non-Bermudian spouses from owning a second home.

September: Premier Ewart Brown announces expats will be made to train Bermudian replacements in order to get work permits which will be strictly limited in length of stay. Explaining the policy he dubs Goodwill Plus, he said: "Attached to Sven's three-year work permit will be young Johnny, a Bermudian who has just graduated from college with a degree in financial services and a hunger for success.

"Of course Johnny doesn't have the kind of experience Sven does. But Goodwill Plus will compensate for Johnny's inexperience because in order to get the work permit the CEO has agreed to put a scheme in place that trains Johnny to take over Sven's job when the three-year term is up. "After three years, Sven goes back to Sweden and Johnny is on his way to a healthy career."

September: Government releases a draft of the Workforce Equity Act 2007 which will require businesses to ensure Black Bermudians are not blocked from being hired and promoted. Employers will be forced to identify barriers to upward mobility and remove them. Companies refusing to bend face $50,000 fines.