“Why can’t qualified young Bermudians get jobs, why are there so many foreign waitresses and why aren’t carpenters protected by stronger immigration rules?”Those were some of the questions posed by ordinary citizens as they grabbed the opportunity to press industry experts and a Government Minister over the state of the economy last night.More than 200 people ranging from barmen to carpenters and from union workers to lawyers packed the ballroom at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, where it was standing room only.They clamoured to tell the experts what should be done and take them to task over perceived failures.The experts in question were Terry Pimentel, President of the Arch Bermuda insurance company, Gil Tucker, Country Managing Partner of Ernst and Young, John Harvey, the CEO of the Bermuda Hotel Association and Hotel Employers of Bermuda and Chris Furbert, President of the Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU].They were joined by Senator Kim Wilson, Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, who told the audience: “Tonight is your opportunity to listen and have your say.”First to pose a question was Government Senator LaVerne Furbert, who works at the BIU and edits the Worker’s Voice newspaper.She took issue with a perception that “Bermudians don’t have the intellectual capital to fill jobs in international business”. She also asked whether Government was welcoming to international business.Mr Pimentel pointed out that most international companies specialise in “sophisticated risk management” dealing with Fortune 500 companies so “the level of experience needed to service that industry is quite high”.He told Sen Furbert: “Bermudians certainly have the intellectual capacity and capability to get ahead in the insurance business” and explained that only four or five members of his 28-strong office are non-Bermudian.“I don’t think it’s ever an issue of Bermudian brainpower. It’s a quantity issue. We will never produce enough accountants. Bermudians are smart but we are small,” he said.He added that Government is “certainly” welcoming to international business, but the cost of doing business was an issue.On the topic of education, a woman who did not give her name complained that young Bermudians coming home from university are unable to get jobs. Another woman complained that those with the right qualifications are being told they are not experienced enough.Mr Pimental replied: “I do not know of any country in the world that can absolutely guarantee jobs for individuals coming home but we should do everything we can to support and encourage Bermudians coming back.”–Lawyer Kelvin Smith, an expatriate who has lived in Bermuda for 18 years and described himself as “an ambassador for Bermuda” suggested local youngsters should gain experience overseas before returning to the Island to forge a career.Mr Tucker said he will talk to every young Bermudian who comes into his office seeking a position, as everyone needs a chance.A Bermudian bartender, who did not give his name, pointed out that expatriate workers at the “lower end” of the employment ladder are not spending money in Bermuda, but instead sending it home to their families. He added that foreign waitresses and waiters who work at his establishment are unable to supply tourists with information about the Island, and call on him for help.“If we just chipped at the bottom end, trimmed the fat and encouraged restaurateurs to get Bermudians (working) in restaurants, that would help,” he suggested.However, Mr Harvey said Bermudians appear unwilling to take such jobs. At a recent employment fair where 800 jobseekers turned up, only four of them signed up to be waiters or servers, he told the audience.“Step up folks, get interested in your well-being and get serious about doing a job that has a pretty decent return,” he advised.An unnamed Bermudian woman who’s lived in Barbados in recent years said “we do need to consider gaming as Bermuda can be perceived as dull and “there’s a lot more excitement in Barbados”.Mr Tucker said if Bermuda does press ahead with a casino, then “we had better be globally competitive and you’d better be able to turn a profit”.Following the open forum, members of the carpentry industry got the opportunity to quiz Senator Wilson over their concerns. One asked why the Bermuda Technical Institute had closed down, with Sen Wilson replying that the two public senior schools are now offering technical programmes instead.However, she said: “It doesn’t seem to have the support that one would have thought. The Bermuda College is always under-subscribed when it comes to technical education. I can’t say why.”The majority of questions from carpenters covered gripes about expatriates in the construction industry who are working illegally and taking jobs from locals. Others complained that job advertisements seem to be worded in a way that discourages local applicants and some called on the Minister to “pull some permits”.Sen Wilson agreed there are “rogue companies” and stressed that when they are caught, they are punished by having their permits revoked. She encouraged members of the public to report concerns to the immigration department hotline, but said she cannot cancel work permits unless their conditions have been breached.The evening ended with several emotional outbursts from carpenters asking “when are these foreigners going home?” calling for a complete ban on expatriate carpenters and complaining that they are often called in to fix work botched by so-called “professionals”.Sen Wilson replied that there are problems with the attitudes and timekeeping of some local tradesmen although she is not saying that “every Bermudian carries on like that”. She explained she was “mortified” that she had to approve work permits for work at the National Stadium because there were not enough local applicants, possibly due to the unsocial hours that needed to be worked.