Angry expatriates have threatened Minister David Burch and his staff after failing to get their work permits renewed, he revealed yesterday.

Sen. Burch, who is Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, threatened to "name and shame" the guilty guest workers.

He told a press conference: "A reduction in jobs in Bermuda must result in a corresponding reduction in work permits. Fewer jobs require fewer workers. I cannot send the Bermudians anywhere so it must be the non-Bermudians who go home.

"In spite of the world wide economic downturn and the consequent loss of jobs there is great resistance by many foreigners to the non renewal of work permits. We are seeing a marked increase in the number of employers and indeed some guest workers challenging the provisions of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act.

"I have been threatened — my staff has been threatened — all by people who seem to think that somehow they have a divine right to remain in Bermuda forever."

The Minister went on to reveal: "We presently have about a dozen cases in various stages of dispute, either through the courts or lawyers writing to the department. "Up until last week, all of these suits were against me as the Minister responsible for Immigration, but now there is an attempt to sue me in my personal capacity."

The Minister did not give details of that particular guest worker, but warned: "Let me put all of them on notice as some have already learned we will fight just as aggressively to protect the rights of Bermudians, up to and including 'naming and shaming' the guilty."

He went on to say that does not mean all Bermudians have the right to be given a job over expatriates.

"For the advancement of the Bermudian workforce, there must be a shift of attitude amongst some Bermudians seeking employment. They must realise that the jobs and careers of tomorrow require necessary education and certification so that Bermuda can remain competitive in the international community.

"The Department of Immigration is liaising directly with the Department of Labour and Training before considering issuing work permits. Some Bermudians have a sense of entitlement they feel since they are Bermudian, they should get a job over a non-Bermudian candidate, even if they are not qualified."

However, Sen. Burch lamented the fact he has seen "several bright energetic young people" who cannot find jobs, including one young man who applied for 21 jobs without even getting an interview. "As such, in response to significant complaints, a moratorium has been placed on work permits for certain job categories," he noted.

The Minister announced in August that the moratorium applies to all applications for work permits for masons, carpenters, landscape gardeners and cleaners because firms seemed reluctant to hire Bermudians. He warned yesterday: "This will be extended to other categories as the need arises."

Sen. Burch also revealed that Sri Lankan applicants for work permits will face even greater hurdles than those of other nationalities in future, explaining: "Recently we have seen a worldwide increase in the challenges faced by Sri Lankan nationals in securing visas to transit various countries to get to Bermuda.

"At considerable expense to the Bermudian tax payer we have recently had to escort several Sri Lankan nationals to their homeland as a result of refusals by both the United States and United Kingdom Governments to grant visas.

"As such, effective immediately, no work permits will be approved for Sri Lankan nationals unless the applicant already holds a valid multiple re-entry visa for the USA or UK."