PLP press officer Wentworth Christopher has waded into the expatriate ID cards row, reiterating calls for Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards to resign.

Immigration Minister David Burch called for Mr. Richards to stand down on Monday because he likened a plan for ID cards for guest workers to Nazi Germany but failed to mention that one of his companies stood to make money from the project.

Mr. Richards responded by saying his firm, Bermuda Information Technology Systems Ltd. (BITS), was not directly involved in producing the cards and he had no intention of resigning. He was backed by UBP leader Kim Swan.

Mr. Christopher issued a statement last night questioning Mr. Richards' claim that he was not involved in the day-to-day work of BITS, of which he is president and a director.

"MP Richards claims that he's qualified to run our Finance Ministry but, according to him, he doesn't even know what his own company is doing."

Mr. Christopher described the Nazi comparison as inappropriate and improper. "How dare MP Richards compare a Green Card-like programme to Nazi Germany," he said. "That comparison is offensive and immoral. It has no place in our society and I call upon right-minded people in the UBP to join me in calling for MP Richards' resignation.

"Those who were affected by the horrors of the Nazi regime are rightfully insulted to see a Green Card-like programme compared to a regime that committed one of the most horrific atrocities in the history of mankind. This comparison is repugnant to any right-thinking Bermudian and it smacks of deep hypocrisy."

Mr. Richards said on Monday that his arguments against the ID cards plan were about the need to stop alienating international business.

"We need them in the period ahead to help us deal with a new US administration that may target Bermuda as a tax haven," he said. "My arguments were about protecting Bermuda's interests. It is a shame that Sen. Burch has tried to obscure this discussion by attacking me today. This is a serious issue in a serious time and we need to focus our attention on it, not be sidetracked by misleading accusations.

"Finally, I can handle being attacked by Sen. Burch personally, but it is extremely disturbing that he is now using this half-baked political attack to threaten the work of a good Bermudian company."