Government backbencher Arthur Hodgson has said Bermuda should consider restricting work permits and letting the market sort out the scramble for labour.

Mr. Hodgson gave the example of the British channel island Jersey which had a similar population and economy based on tourism and international business. He said: “In Jersey for example you can't create employment without permission. This is because of their immigration situation.”

He said the island had imposed these restrictions to preserve its quality of life. “Even though it would sound horrendous in Bermuda I would invite the minister to still understand the principle to which I allude, to have a look at that to see if the principle we have operated under over many years is called into question.”

He said business operated under the principle they had the right, if they couldn't hire someone locally, to hire overseas.

“What I find interesting is that principle which permeates our society, even people who don't have the benefit from that, buy into it.”

“Anyone thinking about going into business must consider where it will be, they must have land, they must have capital, they must go and find capital in the marketplace, they must have labour.

“Now on the basis of our immigration policy we don't expect for him to go down into the marketplace to find labour in that area the immigration department is going to assist him.

He said the “world is going to be the marketplace.”

Mr Hodgson said if the Hamilton Princess advertised for a pot washer locals might not apply because of the wages.

But he said if the Princess advertised it at $1,000 a week then one or two locals would apply while other hotels might have to put wages up further to compete. He said the immigration policy was distorting real competition in the market place.

Competition for labour would force the development of technology said the former Environment Minister. He said years ago he couldn't get locals to join him in his cesspit company so he initially got overseas labour but he also invested in new industry-changing technology.

He said alienation was rife in Bermuda and Government should get back to basics to stop the rot.