workers in the Island, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Mrs. Lois Browne Evans told MPs yesterday.

That was one of the passionate outbursts provoked by the subject of immigration, as the House of Assembly debated the Labour and Home Affairs budget.

Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said the recession had meant Bermudians losing jobs. Government had been challenged to help them.

So work permits had been reduced, leaving 5,300 fewer at the end of 1992 than there were in 1989. Last year saw 700 permits go, he said.

"We believe that the policy of this Government has been the right and proper one. It gives us that cushion, that ability to absorb, because a lot of employers did not renew when contracts or engagements ended and we believe a lot of Bermudians have been engaged because of that.'' Mr. Pearman said the Island has a "very dynamic economy''. But service economies were vulnerable.

Government had talked to international business and simplified and relaxed the process of getting work permits for chief executives and other senior officers.

This was done "without in any way taking away from Bermudians every opportunity to grow in this sector''.

Representations had been received from the Chamber of Commerce on the acquisition of houses and condos by non-Bermudians, but there was no immediate need to make dramatic changes on that.

Permit holders who had left were "a vital element in our economy'', Mr.

Pearman said, and had helped it grow.

"With them leaving Bermuda it has affected our economy to a greater degree than what might have otherwise occurred because they are very important. It's important that we as Bermudians recognise that secondary effect from non-Bermudians in the workforce.

"Each and every one of us have an obligation to do whatever we can to try to supply the level of service, to provide the professionalism, to give the welcome that is needed.'' He announced a first draft of the new register of Bermudians should be ready by April 1, embodying Parliamentary registers from 1989 to 1992. This was "raw data'' and would be "cleansed'' he said, taking off people who had died and adding others.

People could see the first draft in post offices and make comments. The new register would make queries on status easier and cheaper to process, and would be welcomed by the public.

"I will ask honourable members not to panic. We're not going to rush this out, in fairness to all concerned.'' Mr. Pearman added the Ministry had welcomed representations from Azoreans and West Indians among others, and listened to their concerns.

But Mrs. Browne Evans said mismanagement of immigration caused "suspicion, danger and far-reaching repercussions''.

The 1956 immigration law should be abolished, she said, and a "true naturalisation'' law brought in that defined a Bermudian citizen.

The new register of Bermudians was confusing people, because the status they had to put on airport immigration cards was "BDTC''. National pride had been watered down by Government.

The register would be one of Bermuda status holders and would not prove that a person was Bermudian.

"Most born Bermudians know what they mean when they say they're Bermudian,'' she told Mr. Pearman. "Too many people don't even like being a colony of the UK, but until politically something is done about that, then tell people what they are. They are Bermuda status holders, they are born Bermudians or non-born Bermudians.

"You are bringing up a generation of children that don't know what their heritage is.'' How much empathy did Bermudians feel with Britain, she asked, since the fall of Mrs. Thatcher and the troubles in the royal family.

"It's been embarrassing in my 30 years in Parliament, the way we've been treated by Britain.

"I have watched us being dictated to by London, and my backbone is tired of bending. I want us to stand tall.'' On international business, she said the PLP had long advocated encouraging it.

But she wondered if the Minister could stand up to these "financial giants''.

Would the speeded-up permit process give time to check references? And would the attitude of the senior officers be checked? "Hasty checks will sometimes leave you with a man who has an attitude, who behaves like a sergeant and talks to his staff like they're not Bermudians.

"They are not going to take it if you bring in a CEO who hasn't been told Bermudians are different.'' Some top men in international business do not say "good morning'', she said.

Others "don't know how to be friendly without indulging in sexual harassment''.

"We allowed unnecessary, unbridled growth in the economy of this Country.

That's why it was not gradual. That's why it was an economic bust.

"That's why everybody had the right to bring in non-Bermudians - it didn't matter what business he was in.'' Society had been made less homogenous, and people with different attitudes, customs and values had been grafted on.

"That's why some of our mores and attitudes and values are all shot to pieces.'' Dr. David Dyer (UBP) responded: "Bermudians as a whole did gain considerably from the presence of non-Bermudians amongst us.

"Bermuda did not have enough Bermudians to supply all the necessary people required during the years of growth.'' The immigration board was asking employers about their plans to employ Bermudians in key posts.

Mr. Gilbert Darrell (NLP) told the House: "What I really get incensed about is to have members of the UBP continuing to say that we're at a disadvantage because so many people have left the Country and what they have contributed to the Country.

"I know one man that I'm told worked at the Southampton Princess, who went out of this country with $70,000 in his pocket.

"We have allowed this Country to over-expand to the advantage of what amounts to a few.'' He was for "the exchange of people''. But some of those who acquired Bermuda status were "so arrogant it isn't funny''.

"Even in Great Britain, where we're aliens now, immigrant workers are only about five percent of the total population.'' Mr. Stuart Hayward (Ind) said many of today's problems came from an expansion in the economy that was too rapid, and which needed a rapid import of workers.

He wondered if the spin-offs from international business for Bermudians were as great as those from tourism.

Traffic and lifestyle changes were penalties of expansion, he said. The dollar was not the only important thing.

"There are some companies where Bermudians have left their jobs and non-Bermudians have been hired since, to do the similar or same work.

"There may be some special circumstances, but for the Bermudians that lose their jobs there is an incredible dissatisfaction and frustration because they don't know where to go.'' Filipino workers are enduring "abominable'' treatment, Mr. Hayward said. An advocate for non-Bermudians' rights was needed.

Mr. Hayward said Bermuda's one natural resource, "its friendly, easy-going people'', was being worn away and exploited by Immigration policies.

He said it was an "accident'' -- due to the recession -- that hundreds of foreign workers were sent packing. It was not due to Government finally creating Immigration policies in the best interests of the Bermudian worker, he said.

He concluded his address by calling for more control over the growth of the foreign workforce and international business and hotel sectors.

Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul , in a stinging attack on Mr.

Hayward, asked what he had done to help Bermudians get jobs.

"What has he ever done to contribute to the job market of Bermuda?,'' he asked.

Bermudians held 65 percent of the jobs in international companies and there were "thousands'' employed in the international business sector.

Dr. Saul blasted Mr. Hayward for saying Government had not been controlling growth and had failed to look out for Bermudians.

"Anyone who wants to get off their butt and work, study and train will do well thanks to international business...If a person does not want to work then they might feel left behind,'' he said.

As many as 11,500 jobs were generated by the international business sector: "That is a third of the workforce.'' Government had maintained "very wise and sensible Immigration policies'', he said, adding they were in the best interest of Bermuda, its economy and people.

Mr. Ottiwell Simmons (PLP), president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, opened his address by scolding Dr. Saul for making a "personal attack'' on Mr.

Hayward.

He went on to say Bermuda was in trouble because of its Immigration policies.

Government was "selling out Bermudians''.

"If we are not careful, we are going to have a Government that is voted in by the people of Bermuda but that is controlled by foreigners,'' he said.

Mr. Simmons said all the major hotels -- representing 68 percent of the tourist beds in Bermuda -- were owned by non-Bermudians.

And he claimed there were hardly any Bermudians holding top management posts in hotels as well as in international companies.

"Why do you think the whole question of training is pooh-poohed by this Government,'' he asked. "Why, in all the history of Bermuda College and the hotel school, have we not produced one Bermudian manager to take over from a foreigner? Why? Because the whole policy of the Bermuda Government is designed to keep Bermudians out of these jobs.'' Mr. Simmons said his point was not to come down on the international business and hotel industries, but rather to show: "If we are going to have industries here they have got to start benefiting Bermuda and Bermudians. Immigration policies must be taken more seriously.'' Claiming the Island's 34,000 workers were not represented on the Board of Immigration, he demanded to know its composition and who its members represented.

Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto fired off a list -- "compiled in just 30 seconds'' -- of Bermudians she said held top management positions in local hotels. They included: Mr. David Dodwell of the Reefs hotel, Mr. George Robinson, formerly of Grotto Bay Hotel, Mr. Mike Williams who is now at a hotel in the Bahamas, Mr. Dennis Tucker of Sonesta Beach Hotel, Mr. W.A. (Toppy) Cowen of Pink Beach cottages, Mr. Paul Leseur of Lantana cottages and Mr. Walter Roberts of Somerset Bridge Hotel.

"The list goes on and on,'' she said. "For the honourable member to suggest there are no Bermudians in management positions in our tourist industry is an outright lie.'' Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen said Immigration policies were "very rightly a sore issue in this Country''.

"A PLP government will not just talk about upward mobility of Bermudians in the workplace, it will do something about it such as providing tax incentives to train and retrain Bermudians,'' he said.

Mr. Allen said he was tired of hearing Government MPs "lament'' about the loss of foreign workers during the past two years.

He said Government should instead be taking advantage of the situation to "move Bermudians up the ladder''.

He hammered Mr. David Lines, head of Government's task force on unemployment, for stating in a recent address to businessmen that Bermuda needed a new ave of foreigners to boost the economy.

Mr. Allen said it was "ludicrous'' that a work permit for a Portuguese gardener on a $15,000 salary cost the same ($440) as a work permit for a top lawyer on a $150,000 salary.

He said making the cost of work permits progressive to a person's salary would provide an incentive to companies to hire and train Bermudians for top jobs.

"The UBP's immigration policies are for the benefit of outsiders not Bermudians,'' he said.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan accused the PLP of doing a "disservice to the people by sending them confusing signals''.

He asked the Opposition if it was in fact saying "if you cut out foreigners you can have the jobs''.

Sir John said international companies did not have to domicile themselves in Bermuda if conditions were not favourable.

He pointed out some 5,000 contract workers had been lost since 1991. "That's about 10,000 non-Bermudians if you take into account their dependents,'' he said, adding the loss probably caused the most hardship to Bermudian homeowners who rent out apartments to help pay their mortgages.

"This Country must earn money to help Bermudians,'' he said. "The PLP wants to tax, borrow and spend and has no plan to manage this country...It has never demonstrated it can act responsibly -- not even in its responses to the budget.'' He said he believed Bermuda had weathered the recession better than any country in the world, riding it out with just three percent unemployment and having a current account surplus.

Mr. Anthony Correia (UBP) noted international companies not only employed Bermudians, but made valuable contributions to the community in the form of donations, scholarships and awards.

The Hon. Harry Soares (UBP) said Mr. Darrell had sent "shivers'' down his back when he complained about guest workers taking sizable savings with them when leaving the Island.

"Is he suggesting that we confiscate their earnings?,'' he asked. Mr. Phillip Smith (UBP) said he would like to see harsher punishments for employers who flout Immigration rules.

In his response, Mr. Pearman disclosed Government was currently drafting a code of employee rights for contract workers who were not represented by unions.

Moving onto the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs headquarters, Mr. Pearman said the use of Government bodies to settle disputes had saved the country thousands of dollars by avoiding strikes.

But Mr. Simmons said: "It should be recognised that industrial relations have gone from a moral committment to a confused legal situation.

"It has also changed in that most of the disputes that would normally be resolved at shop-floor or industrial level between employer and employee are now taken into court or quasi-judgmental hearings.

"The Government has now come to this House, in one of our most difficult economic periods, saying that the taxpayer is paying, in the year 1992, a grand sum of $285,000 for disputes that used to cost the Government zilch.'' Mr. Simmons said that the Government had acted under pressure from major employers in the Country.

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND HOME AFFAIRS 1993 994 ESTIMATES Budget estimate $4,637,000 (last year $4,597,000) Budget allocations Immigration $2,573,000 Registry General $1,010,000 Ministry HQ $1,054,000.