The Bermuda Trade Union Congress had urged Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler to keep out of the row engulfing the musicians union.

There have been moves to revive the union and replace the current executive but at a recent meeting Lloyd Simmons clung on as head of the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists.

Mr. Simmons had said those seeking to get on the executive committee had to be members for six months which led Mr. Butler to urge members to overthrow him and get the union moving again.

On Friday a TUC statement said: “We were saddened to read the comments attributed to the Honourable Minister for Cultural Affairs.

“For him to suggest that something must be done about the current Federation of Variety Artists is not only outside his remit as Minister but has shades of conflict of interest.

“He would be wise to leave the affairs of unions to their respective executives and membership.”

The TUC said it recognised the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists as a properly constituted union, as did the Government because the union had a representative on the Labour Advisory Council.

The TUC also urged suitable people to join the musicians union to improve it rather than destroy it.

The statement also went on to back the Prison Officers Association and endorse the findings of the commission into prison management which urged the top three managers be sacked.

The statement said: “While we have empathy for the two Bermudians we believe the commission's recommendations should be followed.”