An expatriate recently deported has accused the Immigration department of heavy-handed treatment after he was arrested, held at Westgate Prison and forcefully removed from the country despite his long philanthropic record on the Island.

A well known volunteer for various local arts groups - including Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) and the National Gallery - Tony Fernandes was deported last month after Immigration officials discovered he had been illegally operating his own business for five years.

Mr. Fernandes wrote a six-page letter to The Royal Gazette this week from his London, England, base to explain his side of the deportation drama.

He claimed that a congenital hereditary disease prevented him from working a normal day job for many years.

“Until 1995 I enjoyed a progressively upwardly mobile professional career in the visitor industry,” he wrote.

Then he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. “The bottom line is still that there are good days and not so good days.”

Mr. Fernandes said he had been hoping to “regularise” his status in Bermuda by setting up a business entity, The Indigo Road Company, which he hoped would provide employment for Bermudians.

And he admitted he should have approached Immigration earlier: “I am of course, completely responsible in being grossly remiss in not keeping the authorities apprised of my circumstances and existing in a personal cocoon of procrastinatory denial, partly in a subliminal desire to avoid the perceived socio-political legacy climate of ‘expatriate bashing' and an inherent loathing of bureaucratic inflexibility which has not proven itself again prophetically.”

Mr. Fernandes insisted he was not a burden on Bermuda's system but worked diligently for its benefit through various charities and an eco-walk group he helped found in 1997 - Rock Ramblers.

Mr. Fernandes said all donations received from that group were specifically earmarked for charity.

He also wrote that he approached Immigration voluntarily in September 2001 about his situation and presented his case to the department complete with various character references.

“I'm proud to say that I've consistently been a ‘go the extra mile' exponent for Bermuda Inc. since 1986 as many who've known and worked with me over the years will attest to.”

“I have maintained a clearly visible profile in the community and media. This I would argue is (not) behaviour typical of someone purely intent on working for personal gain in the ‘twilight/shadow' economy.”

But Immigration officials said Mr. Fernandes' case came to their attention following a complaint from a member of the public.

Mr. Fernandes claimed he also requested “at the very least” a short period of time to wind up his affairs but was arrested on January 17 and “paraded across the street in handcuffs to be transferred to the Police station and on to Westgate”.

Mr. Fernandes said he understood the law but said he offered no threat to public safety: “With two ailing kidneys and a congenital limp, the irony of being locked up to prevent my escape from a place I did not particularly desire to leave just yet, does not escape one.”

But he continues to say he objects to the spirit of the law and hopes to return to Bermuda eventually.

He said he cannot legally re-enter Bermuda at all for five years.

Mr. Fernandes also thanked the many friends who came to the airport to see him away and asked for continuing contact at rockrambler hotmail.com.