Opposition leader Kim Swan has called for Labour and Immigration Minister David Burch to be sacked, accusing him of "intimidating citizens for their political views".

The demand came after The Royal Gazette revealed that a civil servant in the Department of Immigration e-mailed a local company to complain about an employee signing a message in support of the Corporation of Hamilton's Save Our City campaign.

The email said Senator Burch was "not at all pleased" to have received the message opposing a "government takeover" of City Hall and asked if the company shared the view of its employee.

This newspaper is aware of two other firms which have received similar messages from the same civil servant advising them of the Minister's "displeasure" and asking how they plan to deal with employees who support the Corporation's campaign.

Mr. Swan said yesterday that the reported behaviour of Sen. Burch — who last month ripped up a letter from Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling and returned it to him — was cause for serious concern. "The Minister must explain himself to the Premier and the people of Bermuda," said the UBP leader.

"If the report is true, his actions are an abuse of power that, given his recent string of inflammatory statements, should be the final straw warranting his dismissal.

"We cannot have Government Ministers intimidating citizens for their political views and threatening the businesses that employ them. This, moreover, is a Minister who has power to materially hurt people through his control over work permits and other immigration approvals."

The female employee from the company which received the Department of Immigration e-mail said it was evidence that Sen. Burch had "lost his mind".

The 24-year-old signed a petition opposing Government's draft bill to reform the Island's municipalities, which will be debated in the House of Assembly today. She added her work e-mail address to the form and it generated a protest message sent on her behalf to senators urging them to "stop Cabinet's attempt to dismantle the Corporation of Hamilton".

The woman told this newspaper: "Last time I checked, Bermuda was a democracy giving Bermudians the power of free speech. I firmly stand by my opinion."

Mr. Swan said: "I want to take this opportunity to commend the young Bermudian woman who brought the story forward for standing strong."

It was not possible to get a response from the Premier or Sen. Burch by press time last night.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance chairman Michael Fahy said he had no comment.