Who’s Afraid Of The DOI?
The ‘culture of fear’ that inhibits work permit holders and those dependent on non-Bermudian labour from making public comments on Bermudian politics is “unwarranted” according to Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer.
Mr. Brewer made his comments in an email to Robert Stewart, supporter of the tourism pressure group Tourism Action Now, which has been shown to A Limey In Bermuda. They were precipitated by allegations that president of Bermuda Island Cruises (BIC), Donald Morris, received a phone call from a member of the Department of Immigration threatening to make life difficult for him unless he stopped activist Tony Brannon from making jokes and innuendos about local politicians at the ‘Don’t Stop The Carnival’ show operated by his company. According to Mr. Brannon, this was a veiled threat to deny BIC a work permit for Barbadian reggae singer Biggie Irie, who also performs in the show.
Mr. Brewer, however, said that no immigration officer had been authorised to talk to anyone about Mr. Brannon’s comments, and stressed that the Department of Immigration is “not in the business of suppressing freedom of speech or any other freedom”. Mr. Brewer went on to say that “it is not uncommon for irresponsible persons to impersonate immigration officers, as has happened in this case, for their own ends” and suggested that anyone who receives a call from someone purporting to be a member of his staff should check with Immigration to ensure the call is genuine.
As far as expats are concerned, Mr. Brewer said their fear of his department has more to do with unscrupulous employers who threaten them with the loss of their permit to ensure they toe the line. “The employees then acquire a fear of Immigration because of what their employers have threatened,” he said. “Some employers tell their staff that Immigration has not approved their permit, when they did not even apply for a renewal.”
Nonetheless, the culture of fear is real. Expats aside, hoteliers and restaurateurs are notoriously reluctant to criticise the Government or associate themselves with any kind of political controversy, lest they suddenly find themselves unable to bring in the foreign staff their businesses rely on.
These people may want to believe what Mr. Brewer says, but it remains unlikely that many will take the risk.
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It's probably true that no employee was authorised to make such a call. But that doesn't mean an inappropriate call wasn't made by or on behalf of someone in Gov. I'd be interested to hear BIC's story on the issue. Facts please!
Posted by Frankie on 04.08.04 at 21:51
Threats and intimidation have always been the PLP style.Ewart Brown has been making threats for years.
Big difference in the way that Bermuda is and the way that Bermuda "ought" to be.
Which is why Bermuda ends up with creeps like Rene Webb,who is a dictator without much pretentions.
Ergo:Ewart Brown
Posted by Sal on 04.08.04 at 22:20
No.
What Bermuda was, was a hotbed of privilege based on race or ethnicity. It has produced a situation where any attempt to right those wrongs is met by cries of "unfair" by the likes of you Sal.
It is also marked by an amazing memory lapse on how Bermuda used to work. Mortgages used to be pulled by the banks when people spoke out. Whites who dared to agree were ostracized in their communities. Bermuda was a society in which fear was the rule, and the UBP was the group responsible.
Renee Webb was an elected politician who did the job she set out to do, in a no nonsense manner. What you are is a typical reactionary, Sal. But I guess I should not be surprised when words like "dictator" are used by you, since you seem to be unable to express your concerns about PLP members without resorting to exaggerations.
Posted by Jake on 05.08.04 at 07:41
"What Bermuda was, was a hotbed of privilege based on race or ethnicity."
Agreed. As a white Bermudian, I've worked for many succesful black Bermudian businessmen...the 'privileged'...as you say.
Of course, I was held back due to my skin colour, but that's to be expected in Bermuda....nothing new here.
Posted by YYZ on 05.08.04 at 09:51
Could anyone tell me whether the artist known as Beenieman played on the Island as advertized earlier in the summer? If so, could anyone explain how such a loathesome,self-confessed homophobic bigot was able to get a work permit and perform without protests from various religious or social institutions?
Posted by ruby tuesday on 26.08.04 at 10:54
Please, Bermuda's religious institutions are run by and full of the biggest homophobic bigots around. He'd be hailed as a hero in our deluded little island.
Posted by hurricane alex on 26.08.04 at 11:57
I did think as much but one is always ready to be surprised.
Posted by ruby tuesday on 26.08.04 at 12:28
Remember, this Government also brought American Muslim Louis Farrakhan to Bermuda, despite his history of anti-semitic and racist diatribe.
Like Beenieman, Farrakhan changes his tune according to audience ... apologizing for his past offensiveness ... and then starting it all over again.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 26.08.04 at 14:21