Bermuda's musicians plan march to protest immigration policies
Bermudian musicians will take to the streets this Thursday to protest immigration policies they say cost them jobs.
They are planning to hold merger talks with the Bermuda Industrial Union to strengthen their fight against the "inconsistent, arbitrary and discriminatory'' policies.
And they took dead aim at some of the most prominent non-Bermudian performers on the local scene: Mr. Greg Thompson, whose Follies show will run at the Palm Reef Hotel; and Mr. Jimmy Keyes at the Southampton Princess Hotel.
The moves by the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artistes were decided at a Sunday meeting attended by around 40 of the federation's 100-plus members.
In a statement issued yesterday, federation president Mr. Lloyd Simmons said musicians were disenchanted with: The continual granting of work permits to non-Bermudian musicians and entertainers such as Greg Thompson (and the Follies), Steven Rawlinson and Jimmy Keyes; The granting of dual work permits to non-Bermudians. "Specifically, non-Bermudian professionals such as teachers, engineers, who are given permission to work as musicians''; The total lack of respect for the views and comments of the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artistes; and Immigration policies which are inconsistent, arbitrary and discriminatory.
In addition, Mr. Simmons' statement reported the federation's decision to have its executive members "engage in serious discussions with the Bermuda Industrial union with regard to the Bermuda Federation of Musicians...
merging with the Bermuda Industrial Union.'' Thursday's march is scheduled to begin at the Federation's office in Union Square and proceed to the Immigration Department at the Government Administration building.
Last June, Bermudian musicians petitioned Government over concerns about a lack of work.
They called for a freeze on work permits for foreign performers in pubs, restaurants, and hotels between November and March.
They also called for a two-week limit on the duration of work permits for foreign musicians.
