The new ID cards for expats scheme "smacks very heavily of Nazi Germany", Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards told the House of Assembly yesterday.

Mr. Richards also attacked the timing of Labour Minister David Burch's announcement of the scheme on Thursday — saying everything should be done to keep international business happy as Bermuda braces itself for new US president-elect Barack Obama's expected assault on tax havens.

"It smacks very heavily of Nazi Germany where people had to carry ID papers," said Mr. Richards yesterday morning.

"All totalitarian governments have this, where in order for citizens or workers to move around they have to have papers. Whether it's Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union or an apartheid South Africa.

"It is an offence to right-thinking people. If we have to marshall senior people in international business to help us with our efforts in the United States for the onslaught that is coming — how can we expect them to respond positively when we are insulting them?

"It just defies common sense, this is an idea they need to put back in the box real quick."

Mr. Richards continued on the same theme in the House of Assembly later in the day, telling MPs: "Pretty soon we are going to be asking guest workers to have armbands with Stars of David on them.

"This kind of action is repugnant to any right-thinking Bermudian."

He said of expatriates on the Island: "They don't feel welcome. They don't feel part of us. We are picking on them."

On Thursday, Sen. Burch said ID cards would be issued to guest workers as part of a crackdown on illegal employees, particularly in the construction industry.

He said it would help Ministry staff investigate complaints of people working without work permits.

Reaction has varied from Bermudians who think it's a bad idea to expats with no objections.

A number of people have left messages on The Royal Gazette's Facebook wall, including the following:

Alison Dodd: "Expats already have ID cards, they are called passports or drivers' licenses or work permits. If ID cards are to be issued, then they should be issued to every resident, not just a particular group."

Roxanne Christopher: "I think it is CRAZY ... however should we really be surprised? This country is so ANTI non-Bermudian it is a shame.

"So many of these folks forget they are one or two generations removed from immigrants to this country. Third world order is here to stay.

"I am disappointed, and the sad part is that we elect these individuals to speak for us ... Where was the consultation or inclusion in this decision?

"I am saddened and ashamed today. My mother is Jamaican and I am so proud of her, it is a reason why there is no national pride in this country."

Gordy Loader: "I think it's ridiculous ... like making Jews wear armbands, work permits should suffice."

Tina Rego: "I find it interesting because it seems so benign. Colonel Burch likens them to voter registration cards and drivers' licenses.

"They will be used to check that people working at jobs are doing the jobs they are supposed to be doing and have valid work permits. I have to wonder if during another Government's reign their ideas also seemed benign in the beginning."