Government has lifted the ban on granting work permits to construction workers.

The ban was a short-term measure taken to ensure all the Bermudian workers displaced after Government cancelled the contract with Pro-Active Management Systems were given the opportunity to secure alternative employment.

Two quarter page ads ran in The Royal Gazette last Tuesday and Wednesday in an attempt to encourage persons to make themselves known to either the Department of Labour and Training or the Construction Association of Bermuda. The deadline expired on Thursday.

There were only four persons who had been employed at the Berkeley site who came forward and of these, the Construction Association of Bermuda placed two of them on job sites.

The Construction Association of Bermuda is working to find employment for the other two persons.

There were eight other inquiries from non-Berkeley site persons. The Construction Association is exploring employment opportunities for the remaining six.

Labour Minister Randy Horton said: "I am satisfied that every reasonable measure has been taken to facilitate the continued employment of workers who were formerly employed at the Berkeley site.

"I am pleased, therefore, to announce that the temporary ban has been lifted.

"May I take this opportunity to thank both the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Construction Association of Bermuda for their support and assistance during the period of the ban."

The Department of Labour and Training is always available to help any Bermudian who is in need of assistance with respect to finding employment in the construction industry.

Mr. Horton said: "Having liaised with representatives from the Bermuda Industrial Union, I have not learned of any more of their members who were employed at the Berkeley site that are still unemployed and as such I have now decided to lift the work permit ban so that, where necessary, construction firms can import the appropriate foreign resources.

"The Department of Labour and Training stands ready however to assist any Bermudian worker in the construction industry who is in need of assistance finding employment."