A Canadian whose work permit was revoked after he was involved in an argument with a Government MP is hoping last ditch talks with Immigration today will allow him to stay in Bermuda.

But yesterday the Minister of Immigration, Derrick Burgess, said that the investigation and findings were legal and followed all the Department's procedures and policies.

Curtis Macleod, 40, was a site manager for Global Construction in October when MP George Scott visited the Church Street site and the two men were involved in a verbal fight.

It is alleged words such as "racist", "ignorant" and "uneducated" were used and Mr. Scott's children also insulted by Mr. Macleod, who denies saying anything about the children.

Mr. Macleod said he did not know who Mr. Scott was when he encountered him on the site and asked him to leave three times. He admitted reacting angrily and calling the MP a "racist, uneducated, ignorant a**hole" but said he only made the statement after he was racially provoked.

He alleged that the MP when asked to leave for a third time said: "I know who you are. Your name is Curtis and I have heard you talking on Elbow Beach.

"You are not from here and you don't know what it is like to be a black Bermudian. You do not know what it is like to be a black man. You are a black man with a white man's heart."

Last week Mr. Scott denied making that comment and alleged that Mr. Macleod insulted him and also called his children uneducated during the argument. He also said that no where else in the world would a person be able to treat an MP with such disrespect.

Mr. Scott said he did make a complaint to the Department of Immigration who then informed Mr. Macleod's company his work permit was being revoked and the company could have all work permits revoked for allowing senior managers act in an abusive manner.

Yesterday Mr. Macleod said he had received a lot of support from people in the community.

He said: "A lot of people have been coming up to me expressing shock and outrage with what has happened. A lot of expats have also said they are worried.

"I am going to try and have a meeting with the Minister today. I hope we can sit down and work this out."

Last night Mr. Burgess said: "It is not the practice of the Minister of Labour and Immigration to engage in public discussion about decisions taken with regard to individual work permit holders. Quite correctly, communication in this regard takes place directly with the work permit holder and/or his employer."

He said the Department launched an investigation into Mr. Macleod after it received a letter of complaint from Mr. Scott and a letter was sent to Global Construction informing them of the complaint and their right to reply to it.

Mr. Burgess said he gave "careful consideration" to Global Construction's response as well as the supporting documents that came with it.

He said he then considered the original complaint from Mr. Scott again and came to the conclusion that the permit should be revoked "as a result of unsatisfactory character and conduct".

The Department then informed Global Construction of the decision and said it had the right to appeal the decision, which it did. The Appeal Tribunal of Cabinet upheld Mr. Burgess's decision and Mr. Macleod was told he had to leave the Island. See Editorial: Page 4