CONTROVERSIAL comments suggesting Government intends to limit expatriate workers’ rights, were last night dismissed as political “electioneering” by the head of the island’s largest employment services firm.Doug Soares of Expertise Limited delivered a hard-hitting speech to the Association of Canadians in Bermuda, saying it would be better if persons who are “upset and feeling unsettled” because of such threats, considered them in their appropriate context.

“One factor we should all keep in mind is that an election is fast approaching,” he said. “Some predict it will happen within the next ten weeks. So make no mistake about it, we are witnessing a lot of electioneering.

“Just as it happens in Canada around election time, politicians talk tough...but normalcy typically returns after an election and sometimes politicians disappear.”

In recent months, the media has been filled with controversial immigration matters. Canadian construction worker Curtis Macleod had his work permit revoked amidst allegations he displayed disrespectful conduct to Government backbencher George Scott. Australian chef Anthony Reynolds resigned from the Elbow Beach Hotel after he joked about putting arsenic in Premier Ewart Brown’s food. Dr. Catherine Wakely was forced to resign after publicly questioning the controversial closure of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Medical Clinic and British lawyer Jason Green resigned from the Bank of Butterfield after a run-in with Immigration officials at the airport.

Government has also mooted blanket restrictions on expatriate workers, threatening to take away their driving privileges as a solution to the island’s traffic congestion and strongly suggesting they keep quiet on political issues.

“These stories - and more like them - have many work permit holders upset and feeling unsettled,” stated Mr. Soares. “To make my position clear, I am troubled about suggestions of limiting car ownership and free speech for expats.

“That is because I believe that there is nothing more important in life than healthy relationships between people and communities. When relationships are strong, people are secure, happy and productive.

“Conversely, when relationships are damaged, people are unsettled, miserable and unproductive. Therefore, when those from the highest echelons of leadership in Bermuda make statements, or propose policies which have the effect of damaging relationships between Bermudians and work permit holders, it causes widespread and lasting anguish in the community and negative productivity in the workplace. Ultimately, such anguish and negative productivity seriously threatens the wellbeing of our service economy, which in turn causes hardship for everyone.”

Expertise Limited has served more than 170 client organisations in the past six months. With the majority of those clients citing immigration matters as their “most significant concern”, the HR company polled its own employees to determine their feelings on the rise in xenophobic tension in Bermuda.

“Nearly 70 per cent were extremely or very concerned while a further 25 per cent were somewhat concerned,” said Mr. Soares. “Because our employees interact each day with literally hundreds of executives, managers, employees and job seekers, I believe that their concerns reflect those of the wider business community.

“I would like to stress that I am not suggesting for a second that recent controversy surrounding various immigration matters is going to cause an economic downturn. I don’t believe that we are anywhere near that point. I am merely suggesting that the consequences for everyone will be dire should xenophobic tensions continue to escalate.”

The company head said he had every confidence in his opinion when he considered it against events of 30 years ago.

“In 1977 my parents bought a house in Paget. Everyone told them they were crazy to spend the money. Although the economy was very strong, it was a difficult time in Bermuda’s history with widespread social strife including full scale riots in Hamilton. But my parents saw it differently. The last time I calculated, the appreciation on their home stood at 2,319 per cent. That’s an average return of more than 77 per cent per annum. The moral of the story is don’t fall into the trap of popular thinking. Look deeper than the surface for the facts and use those facts to predict and chart your future.”

Mr. Soares pointed out that the work permit process has remained largely the same for more than 25 years despite a change in Government in 1998 and the fact that four different Immigration Ministers have been employed in that period.

“The only significant work permit policy to be implemented within the past 20 years was the term limits policy in 2001 (which) limits work permit terms for non-key personnel, to a maximum of nine years. Continued on Page 9Whilst this policy was controversial when it was introduced, our experience has been that employers are not unhappy with it now, as key personnel are gaining exemptions and there has been no mass exodus of employees. “History tells us that Canadians working in Bermuda enjoy a significant tax advantage, an exchange rate advantage and a warmer climate. Bermuda’s Immigration process — relative to most countries — is simple, predictable and, believe it or not, fast.

“The future for Canadians in Bermuda is bright despite recent rhetoric regarding limitations on car ownership and free speech. And I believe that the future shall remain bright for as long as the fundamental reasons that you chose to work in Bermuda, remain largely unchanged.”