Government is to hire students in a bid to curb mounting delays at Immigration at the Bermuda International Airport.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said that, in the last few weeks, long queues had been forming as visitors and residents waited to clear Immigration into Bermuda.

She said some staff would be held on standby to fill in when needed and she promised to hire five more permanent staff as soon as possible.

She said: "We recognise that most visitors' first encounter with Bermuda is the Immigration procedure at the airport and that is our responsibility to make sure that this first encounter is as pleasant and smooth as possible.

"We cannot accept unnecessary delays.'' Ms Cox denied the delays were partly caused by industrial action.

There has been speculation staff upset about plans to merge Customs and Immigration were staying away in "sick-outs''.

Ms Cox said: "When the first Thursday delays occurred we had a backlog of about three planes coming in at the same time.

"That escalated the problem. Also we had a couple of people out sick, but I have no reason to suspect that is an unofficial action.

"It's been a surprising coincidence of circumstance that has had an unfortunate outcome. I think they (staff) have been in discussion with the management of the department and there's a very open dialogue.

"Our preliminary discussions indicate they are gratified and pleased about the fact that university students and others will be coming in.

"Where numbers of passengers are abnormally high, the primary officers will perform only the automatic stop list check and not record passengers on the passenger information system.

"They will also process passengers without asking to see their airline ticket if they do not have them in hand.'' "In the long-term we are also proceeding to fill five new senior Immigration officer/inspector posts as quickly as practicable. Two will be posted to the airport.'' She said Acting Assistant Chief Immigration Officer Steven Lambert would be on the spot to ensure efficiency and give permission to staff to reduce bottlenecks.

She said Government was seeking about 12 temporary staff and that Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister had assured her there would be no shortage of applicants.

And Ms Cox denied that employing student labour would leave the Island vulnerable.

She said: "There will be training. They won't come in and start tomorrow, they will be available mid-June.

"They will be well-versed and supervised. It's not like turning people loose out there on their own. I think it's very innovative and that they will rise to the occasion.''