Politicians, union leaders and readers of The Royal Gazette have weighed into the discussion on the Uighurs' job situation.

As reported this week, the four former Guantánamo Bay prisoners have been made redundant from their jobs as groundsmen at Port Royal Golf Course and will finish working there at the end of the month. New employment has been found for them in the private sector thanks to the "diligent" efforts of Government, Premier Ewart Brown announced on Wednesday.

He and Labour and Immigration Minister David Burch have failed to answer questions about the men's employment rights and whether they differ from those of other non-Bermudians.

Edward Ball, general secretary of Bermuda Public Services Union, expressed surprise yesterday at how quickly new jobs were found for Khalil Mamut, Abdulla Abdulqadir, Ablikim Turahun and Salahidin Abdulahad. "It is now very apparent that unemployed Bermudians who do have a good work ethic should be encouraged that there are jobs at the same private employer who so readily offered the Uighurs jobs," he said.

"We are also encouraged that the Ministry of Labour will ensure that unemployed Bermudians who are taxpayers and voters should continue to expect even greater assistance in finding Bermudians jobs in the private sector."

Mr. Ball added: "Of course, the Government owes the Uighurs the responsibility of assisting them to find jobs, housing or any other need the Uighurs may have in the distant future.

"The question is: will the Uighurs continue to receive benefits better then a taxpaying, voting Bermudian? Let's not create a scene from the [George Orwell] book 'Animal Farm'."

Shadow Immigration Minister Michael Dunkley said Dr. Brown was "once again" dodging questions and hiding behind another Minister.

He said voters — especially those without a job — had a right to know whether the Uighurs enjoyed special exemptions from Immigration rules and whether Government had subsidised their living expenses since they arrived here in June 2009.

"We want the Government to provide clear, unequivocal answers and we believe it is important to ensure there is a level playing field for all residents of Bermuda," said the Opposition Senate leader. "We have to operate on the basis of fairness for all if we want to move this country forward. We wish the Uighurs well. They are not at fault here.

"They are pawns of other people and cannot be held responsible for their situation. But we need to make sure ground rules are in place that are fair to all residents, no exceptions."

Readers, meanwhile, expressed frustration that jobs had been found so swiftly for the Uighurs when hundreds of Bermudians are out of work.

Walter Burgess said: "I'm a 'son of the soil' (whatever that stands for in Bermuda today) and I've been unemployed for seven months, with little prospect of gaining employment after 16 applications and two interviews."

Bev Tatem said: "I have a Bermudian friend who has been out of work for a few months and is actively seeking employment. Maybe the Government can help her find a job too! I guess there will always be certain rules for certain people."

But LaVerne Furbert, executive secretary of Bermuda Industrial Union, told contributors to a discussion on the subject on Dr. Brown's Facebook page: "If you were in touch with what's happening in Bermuda, you would know that the Government is helping Bermudians to find employment.

"By the way, the Uighurs won't be taking employment away from Bermudians; they'll just replace other non-Bermudians working in Bermuda."

The number of people looking for work in Bermuda topped 1,700 during 2009, according to figures released by Government in February.

Business leaders said at the time they feared the figure — representing a 4.5 percent unemployment rate — had risen in 2010.