A Department of Immigration officer sent an e-mail to a local company to complain about one of its employees signing a message in support of the Corporation of Hamilton's Save Our City campaign.

The civil servant wrote to the head of the firm to say Labour and Immigration Minister David Burch was "not at all pleased" to have received the letter from the woman protesting against a "government takeover" of City Hall.

The officer said the Minister wished to know if the employee's view was shared by the company and asked that if it was, the company put its comments in writing to be passed to Senator Burch.

The company head — according to correspondence seen by The Royal Gazette — wrote back to say staff were entitled to express personal opinions and the firm did not take a view on government matters.

Last night, the employee told this newspaper that the complaint to her boss suggested Sen. Burch had "lost his mind".

"It's an extremely sad day when a politician threatens to abuse his power because of a difference of opinion," said the 24-year-old. "Last time I checked, Bermuda was a democracy giving Bermudians the power of free speech."

The woman said she signed a petition opposing Government's planned reform of both the Island's municipalities last week, adding her work e-mail address to the form.

This generated a standard protest message being sent on her behalf to politicians, including Sen. Burch, which displayed her name and e-mail address.

The message said: "I urge you and your colleagues in the House of Assembly and Senate to stop Cabinet's attempt to dismantle the Corporation of Hamilton. I am not alone, I join the 82 percent of Bermudians who oppose Cabinet's takeover plan.

"We want Government and the Corporation of Hamilton to work together to enact real, meaningful reform in our city. We demand transparency and openness from Government.

"A government takeover of the City of Hamilton is risky and it's wrong. Please hear us — we are making our voices heard to Save Our City!"

The woman, who asked that neither she nor her employers be named, said: "My employer was contacted and questioned to explain my actions, simply for my opinion to the takeover.

"It's absolutely ridiculous the length he [Sen. Burch] is willing to go in an attempt to silence my opinion. As a young, intelligent Bermudian, I am quite capable of weighing the alternatives to the Government's proposed city takeover.

"I do not need his input to determine that this would be a catastrophic decision for the working Bermudian."

She added: "Minister Burch works for the people — the people do not work for him. Somewhere along the line he seems to have forgotten that.

"Intimidations and insults from Minister Burch will not change my decision as I firmly stand by my opinion — I absolutely oppose the Government's proposed takeover of the city and will voice my opinion in every democratic way that I can."

This newspaper understands that at least one other firm has received a similar e-mail about an employee from the Department.

Government's draft bill to reform the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George — by electoral reform and changes to land tax exemptions and wharfage fee collection — is expected to be debated in the House of Assembly tomorrow.

Attorney General Kim Wilson said the Municipalities Reform Act was a money bill, which means it may only need the approval of MPs and not senators.

Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling said last night: "With this item due to go to Parliament on Friday, it's disturbing that a government department would try to influence freedom of speech."

A spokeswoman for Sen. Burch and the Department of Immigration did not provide a response by press time.

The Corporation is staging a protest march against the reform plan starting at noon tomorrow at City Hall.

• Have you received a similar e-mail from the Department of Immigration? What do you think? Share your views by e-mailing news@royalgazette.bm.