Dear Sir,

Everything in life needs to be balanced. Bermudians right now are frustrated when they still see jobs taken up by foreigners. Which is still happening today.

The problem does not lie with the foreigners, but with the Bermudians bringing in the foreigners for these jobs.

The Government needs to implement a system of a pay scale. Every job would have a set pay and list of skills. If you are advertising for a maid, caregiver, childminder, etc, each job would have a separate pay scale. So we don’t have one person doing many jobs for one pay.

This would put the Bermudians applying for the job on an even keel with the foreigners whom these employers are bringing into the island. This way the Department of Immigration can check on the foreigners here to make sure they are getting paid fairly for the job they are hired for and Bermudians could apply for jobs fairly advertised.

On the other side, Bermudians need to bring their “A” game. Don’t show up late for work and think that’s OK. Show up on time, every time. Dress appropriately; you are representing the company you work for. Leave the attitude at home and your personal business at home. Attitude: meaning you are not entitled. Give your boss more than what is asked of you. Use your phone only for emergencies. Bring your manners to work, treat customers and clients with respect (after all, they are paying your wage). Do not call female clients “honey”, “sweetheart” or “darling”; they are neither to you. If you are charming and willing to work hard, show enthusiasm and ambition, you will succeed.

If we had Bermudians filling these jobs, then we won’t have an issue with long-term foreigners or children born here getting status. As long as we know that the foreigners that are brought into the island are really needed, and not just a way for the rich Bermudians to get richer off the situation of the foreigners they bring in. And then that foreigner ending up staying for many years and getting status. We as Bermudians are to blame for the situation now. It’s not about the votes; that is deterring from the problem. The problem is fairness for both the foreigners and the Bermudians.

ROOM WITH A BERMUDIAN VIEW

Pembroke