Shadow Tourism Minister Michael Dunkley has questioned Government's ability to "get things done properly".

He made his remarks after news that visitors to the Island were barred from stepping off their cruise ship for not being compliant with new visa regulations for foreign nationals.

More than 30 countries have been added to the list of nationalities that now require a visa to enter Bermuda, as of May 1.

Expatriates from the affected countries make up a large portion of the Bermuda workforce and The Royal Gazette has received calls from several employers and employees, mostly South Africans, who claim they were never informed that their countries had been added to the list.

"The new visa requirements came into effect on May 1 and it is evident in the confusions for cruise ship passengers that the changes were not effectively communicated to the marketplace, from travel agents to cruise companies," said Mr. Dunkley.

"This is a basic function that once again calls into question the Government's ability to manage the nuts and bolts of Government – to get things done properly. Although communicating with the tourism market is not a sure-fire proposition it is clear that not enough was done to warn and inform our visitors."

Mr. Dunkley added that incidents like these could damage Bermuda's tourism industry and the Country's reputation. He urged the Minister responsible for the "mishap" to apologise.

"I can't imagine how upset the people were who were not allowed off of visiting ships. Our tourism business is too delicate for word of these kinds of mishaps to spread," he said. "The Minister of Immigration should contact the visitors impacted and make amends for their stopped visit to Bermuda and take the appropriate steps to make sure future visitors are aware they must have proper documentation."

In response to media reports, as well as complaints from the community, the Department of Immigration released a statement explaining the visa situation and how it intends to fix it.

In the statement, a spokesman for the Department said it was working to ensure that all of the affected parties were up-to-date.

"Regarding perceived immigration challenges at the Island's cruise ports, the Department of Immigration can confirm that its staff have been in contact with the relevant travel agencies for the visiting cruise ships and are working with them to minimise any future delays or disruptions," said the spokesman.

"Well in advance of May 1, the Department of Immigration undertook to inform as many organisations as possible about the impending visa changes."

He added that the Department of Immigration had a system in place to inform anyone and everyone who may be affected.

"It has been the Department's normal practice to circulate new policies to local employer industry groups who then inform their membership," said the spokesman.

"This practice has been very effective in the past in getting the relevant information to the majority of employers, and by extension, to their staff."

Department claimed that similar to other countries, visitors planning to travel to Bermuda must check whether they require visa. South Africa and India are among the countries that now require additional documentation to live and/or work on the Island even if they have a valid work permit.

Guest workers from the newly-added countries, currently in Bermuda on valid work permits, must submit their permit to the Department of Immigration in order to be compliant. The new condition involves having a stamp put on the permit and will take two weeks to process, said Chief Immigration Officer Rozy Azhar.

"Visa controlled nationals who are already residing in Bermuda on a valid work permit may submit their work permits to the Department to be updated with the condition 'BONA-FIDE RESIDENT — DOES NOT REQUIRE A BERMUDA ENTRY VISA'," she said.

Government put the new regulations in place in compliance with the UK Direct Airside visa list which indicates which countries not only require visas to enter the United Kingdom but also require a visa to transfer through the country's airports. Ms Azhar said the nationalities added to the list are considered "high risk".

"All nationalities on the United Kingdom Direct Airside Transit (DAT) visa list have now been added to Bermuda visa controlled nationals list," she stated in an e-mail. "These nationalities are considered high risk as they cannot transit through the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom without a visa.

"We have taken this action because of the number of nationals on this list that have come to Bermuda to work and then have not been able to obtain a visa to leave Bermuda, thus requiring two Immigration Officers, at great expense, to escort the nationals out of Bermuda at great cost to the employer or the tax payer."

She added: "Visa controlled nationals who are already residing in Bermuda on a valid permit are not affected by the new list. They are encouraged to submit their work permit to the Department of Immigration to add the new condition.

"However, work permit holders coming to Bermuda for the first time will have the condition on their work permit policy: 'VISA CONTROLLED NATIONAL — MUST HAVE BERMUDA ENTRY VISA'. Such persons will have to go to the British Embassy in their country to obtain a Bermuda entry visa."

The Royal Gazette has received a number of complaints from guest workers, mostly South Africans, who claim neither themselves nor their employers had been informed of the policy change by Government. Most said they were informed through word of mouth. According to a South African employee of one of the Island's largest employers of guest workers, her company's human resource section received no indication from Government.

Ms Azhar claimed that the Department of Immigration only informs certain sections of the business community and then relies on them to spread the message.

"It has been our practice to notify the employer organisations," she said. "Specifically we inform the Association of Bermuda International Companies; Bermuda Bar Association; Bermuda Chamber of Commerce; Bermuda Employers' Council; Bermuda Hotel Association; Bermuda Human Resources Association; Bermuda International Business Association.

"Those organisations then circulate the policies to their members which guarantees the largest possible circulation. Your Human Resource Department should contact their member organisation."

She concluded: "As with other jurisdictions, visitors planning to travel to Bermuda must check whether they require visa. Our new list of visa-controlled nationals have been circulated to the British missions; the Department of Tourism overseas offices; and to the airlines. The list can be found on our website, www.immigration.gov.bm."