A well-known member of the arts community has been arrested on immigration violations and may be deported today.

Tony Fernandes is known to many through his involvement with the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF), the Rock Ramblers group, the National Gallery and other local arts charities.

However, it appears Mr. Fernandes has been residing on the Island illegally for for the past five years.

Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer said yesterday that Mr. Fernandes is to be deported this week for violation of Bermuda's immigration laws.

Mr. Brewer said Mr. Fernandes was originally admitted to the Island on a work permit to work for one of the local hotels.

However, when his job at the hotel ended, Mr. Fernandes stayed on and according to Immigration he was operating his own business since that time in violation of the Immigration Protection Act 1956.

Mr. Brewer said Mr. Fernandes apparently did not leave the Island over the last five years which is why he was never caught out attempting to re-enter Bermuda without Immigration authority.

The case came to the attention of Immigration officers following a complaint from a member of the public, Mr. Brewer said.

“We get complaints and we follow through on them,” he said. “This is one of these cases.”

Last night, Mr. Fernandes was understood to be in Police custody awaiting deportation to Portugal.

Mr. Brewer said an individual may protest a deportation order by filing a writ of habeus corpus. However, he told The Royal Gazette he did not know whether Mr. Fernandes had exercised that right. The Royal Gazette understands that Mr. Fernandes is represented by a lawyer with the firm Trott and Duncan but calls to the firm were not returned yesterday.

Mr. Fernandes is perhaps best known for his volunteer work with BIFF and other arts groups.

Since last fall he had been acting as volunteer coordinator of BIFF's film club which screens independent films once a month at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

In the past. Mr. Fernandes has also coordinated the film festival's “Chats With” series. Through the series members of the public were able to mix with visiting filmmakers in casual, coffee-house setting during the festival.

Colleagues and friends associated with the festival were saddened at the news of his deportation order.

“We are as shocked as anyone at this turn of events,” said BIFF director Aideen Ratteray-Pryse. “Tony has been a dedicated volunteer with the festival since day one and he has made a valuable contribution, most recently as coordinator of our monthly film series.

“He is well liked and well respected and we will miss him.”

Bermuda National Gallery director Laura Gorham was also surprised to hear of the loss of a dedicated volunteer.

“He's been really a terrific volunteer for the gallery and for other odd events for years,” Ms Gorham said.

Ms Gorham admitted however that she had not known him well outside his volunteer activities.

“I knew very little about him other than that I could call him at the last minute and he was always happy to turn up at would help out when needed,” she said. Many residents also knew Mr. Fernandes as a founder of the “Rock Ramblers” environmental group.