UK Couple Gives Up On Returning To Bermuda

May 10, 2012

A British couple who called on the British Government to fight their case after being asked to leave Bermuda has given up on attempts to return, according to a report on a Hull news website.

Stephen Tomlinson was 24 when he moved to Bermuda in 1991. He met his wife Kirsty, who was also on a work permit, in Bermuda and the two married and had two children. Mr Tomlinson as a paint sprayer at HWP prior to the fire, while his wife worked on the island as a beauty therapist.

He was redundant after the fire, and applied for a work permit and it was declined. The Tomlinsons were given less than a month to leave Bermuda the report said, receiving a letter saying: “The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, after having reviewed the request, has refused the application. You are now being advised to settle your affairs, together with your family and leave Bermuda.”

“If I was told I could go back tomorrow, I wouldn’t,” Mr Tomlinson said. “It’s not worth the heartache.

“There’s no point living on the edge thinking we could be sent home again in a year. I know this was always the case but after 20 years, most countries would give you permanent residency.

“We are not dragging Bermuda’s name through the mud, we love the country and the people.I could swim, snorkel and bike my days away. It was a great life.

“We are just disappointed in the way we were treated. After working hard for so long, we were given such a short time to pack up everything and leave.”

Mr Tomlinson said: “There have been a lot of negative comments as well as supportive ones from British ex-pats and Bermudians.Every year I told my children that we might have to go back to England and they understood. My wife was quite upset with some of the comments on the internet and I have even been called a ‘chav’.”

“People have thanked me for highlighting the issue. There is now a policy that you are allowed to stay for six years but it was never like that when I first went there. They should have sent us back when the law changed instead of holding out for so long just to send us home.”

Mrs Tomlinson said: “We are not acting spoilt and we are not stupid, we knew the situation. It just isn’t fair that they give you such a short time to leave.If our story helps someone who is living out there to be given a bit longer, then it has been worth it.”

After the story broke earlier this month, Minister Patrice Minors said, “The Ministry’s top priority is to get Bermudians who are unemployed back to work.

“Surely those work permit holders who have been made redundant cannot expect to compete with Bermudians who have a legitimate expectation to obtain employment in their own country, particularly when the pool of jobs have been reduced.

“In addition, this Government has consistently ensured that work permit holders are aware that they have no expectation to become long-term residents except in certain circumstances. This story should remind the public of the reason for term limits.”

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Comments (83)

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  1. allcloggedup says:

    The real question is did immigration deny his work permit for Mercedes because there was a Local that can panel beat and spray…..If I owned a repair shop, I’d prefer to hire one person that can start and finish a job….looks like Mercedes will have to hire 2 Locals instead. This is where the policy doesn’t work in anyones favor, except the 2 locals with limited skills.

  2. rob says:

    Most of us don’t want to stay !! So it’s no big deal !

    • allcloggedup says:

      I don’t know how this spiraled out of control….the guy clearly had a good run here and it seems he was treated shabby, having a new permit in the works for another company then having the rug pulled from under him. The question is can Mercedes find a local with combined panel beating AND spray skills. If the answer is yes, there is a local, then the permit application was rightfully halted. If the answer is no, there are no locals that have the combined skills, then the permit renewal should have been granted….knowing how they opperate, I doubt Immigration did an investigation…..

      • whatever says:

        Totally agree with you. If there was a qualified Bermudian, then they should get the job. That’s the whole point. But to be given 3 weeks to “settle your affairs” is not really fair, particularly since they just increased the approved visitor period to 3 months! The kids should have been able to finish their school year at the very least…

  3. Bda Jayme says:

    Although I feel for the Tomlinsons when they came to Bermuda they knew the rules. Yes one month is short notice for them to be given but it works both ways – they could have packed up and left after one months notice to their employer and landlord and that wouldn’t even make the middle pages of the local paper.

    • rob says:

      its not the time limit …its the way your made fell after contributing heaps to society and putting up with all the laziness..they rude bast@rds plane and simple..thats why you love your passort…Its your Home !

    • Cha says:

      There were no term limits when they came 20 years ago.

      • Bda Jayme says:

        When they came here you were given a permit for three years. Been there done that.

      • Bda Jayme says:

        When they originally came over work permits were given for three years – been there done that

      • Grephedo says:

        Yes! Your right, there were no term limits 20 year ago however, unemployment and lack of housing for locals wasn’t this bad either. Also, working here or any country for that matter is a priveliage not a right. People who work in any county shouldn’t expect permanant residency however, I do agree this man and his family should have been giving more time than 2 weeks to pack up. 2 months notice would have been better served.

    • SpecialGIrl4You says:

      They had more than 3 weeks, as they had a house sale which went on for a period of at least 3 months…so they knew…in plenty of time….

  4. Frank says:

    Probably in their best interest to give up the fight to come back….BDA is on fast spiral down the toilet so they should consider themselves lucky to have gotten out when they did. They will be much happier in the long run and will look back in a year or so when Bermuda is claiming 3rd world status and say “whew, we dodged a bullet there!”

    RIP BDA

    • Caffee Seymour says:

      Frank, everywhere is on fast spiral down the toilet. we just don’t look at it this way when it’s in someone elses back yard.

    • Necromonger says:

      Frank you must be an idiot to write and believe the nonsense you post. You are clearly unaware of the reality and are lost in a false perception.

  5. Just saying.... says:

    You are missing the point. After 20 years of living anywhere else in the world, you would at least have some sort of residency right. Maybe not citizenship from the backward draconian countries that remain, but at least residency. Yet, this man and his family have contributed for 20 years to our economy, paid rent, provided services through his job, shopped in our stores etc…. and after 20 years, deuces! Peace out, don’t let the screen door hit you in the backside on the way out! That is not how you treat anyone who has made a contribution to your society. This man did not (as far as we know) rob or steal, he came here and did his job….for 20 years! Its plain wrong. You might say, oh we would have a flood of foreigners here if that was the case, but that is not true, look at the statistics, most leave after 3 years, the majority do not stay beyond 6. It’s the ones who are past 10-15 years we really need to start consider rewarding their contributions in some form. Come up with something that allows them to qualify via point and good citizenship etc….All of us Bermudians, black, white, brown, beige, whatever you call yourself are descendants of someone who came from somewhere else so we should not be picking on the new kid in the schoolyard.

    • rob says:

      Very Well said mate !! You should be a diplomat ::)

    • Unbelievable says:

      I didnt see anywhere where it said he attempted to get any form of residency. Clearly he was content at living here on a work permit only …..sounds like he wanted his cake and eat it too!!!!!!

  6. BERMUDIANS DON'T CARE ABOUT Stephen Tomlinson OR HIS WIFE!! says:

    In last weeks ad you wanted to run down my country and talk all of this “trash” because you and your wife were forced to leave.Stephen Tomlinson was made redundant after the fire at HWP, and applied for a work permit and it was declined. The Tomlinsons were given less than a month to leave Bermuda the report said. I don’t know what’s the big deal! It was very unfortunate that HWP burned down and not only did Stephen Tomlinson lose his job but it made my own BERMUDIANS lose jobs ! Hey Stephen and Kristy guess what a whole lot of BERMUDIANS lost their jobs at HWP as well! Stephen and Kristy YOU ARE NOT BERMUDIANS SO DON”T EVER IN YOUR LIVES EVER AGAIN RUN DOWN MY COUNTRY! And you have the nerve to say that “We are not dragging Bermuda’s name through the mud, we love the country and the people.I could swim, snorkel and bike my days away. It was a great life.WELL YOU WEREN’T SAYING THAT BEFORE YOU WERE RUNNING US DOWN TO THE GROUND and that vexes me!You also say and i quote ““If I was told I could go back tomorrow, I wouldn’t,” Mr Tomlinson said. “It’s not worth the heartache. WELL GOOD CAUSE WE DON”T WANT YOU HERE ANYWAY! GOOD RIDDENS AND PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR AND KEEP BERMUDA’s NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!WE DEFINITELY DON”T WANT YOU BACK NOW AFTER YOU HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY BERMUDA’s CHARACTER and REPUTATION INTERNATIONALLY! Your acting like your entitled to something! Sorry to bust your bubble but you aren’t entitled to NOTHING!IT WAS A PRIVELEDGE TO ALLOW YOU TO COME TO BERMUDA WITH YOUR WIFE AND WORK BUT YOUR ACTING LIKE IT WAS YOUR RIGHT!You should start a website and let millions of people know that you met your wife in a beautiful place called BERMUDA but i bet you that you won’t do that though! ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS MY OWN BERMUDIANS ARE OUT OF WORK !! DO U REALY THINK WE CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR WIFE? My family members that are BERMUDIANS lost jobs as well. There are THOUSANDS of BERMUDIANS OUT OF WORK RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, DID YOU KNOW THAT? MY OWN PEOPLE! I DON”T CARE ABOUT YOU! I don’t know why you were brought here anyway because BERMUDIANS COULD DO Stephen Tomlinson and his wife Kristy’s job!BERMUDIANS FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER THAT’S MY PHILOSOHPY! GET a job in YOUR OWN COUNTRY THAT PAYS GOOD!YOU CAN’T THAT’S WHY YOU FLEW THOUSANDS OF MILES TO GET HERE!SO Don’t come over here to MY COUNTRY and act like we OWE YOU something! You are a FOREINER SO DON’T EVER GET RUDE OR DISRESPECTFUL!When you come to Bermuda and you are not Bermudian you need to act like it is your first day on the job! Nobody goes to a new job and tries to take over or be rude on their first day, well the same applies when you visit Bermuda. You are a GUEST so BE NICE! I never want you to forget this saying “TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST!” So we are gonna take care of BERMUDA’s OWN PEOPLE FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER! I’m sure you can understand this basic and simple concept! You wouldn’t give your last piece of bread to a stranger if your OWN FAMILY WAS STARVING WOULD YOU! And if you would you are a FOOL! So the same applies to Bermuda right now! Bermudians FIRST AND EVERBODY ELSE AFTER!!

    • Kathy says:

      Got a few hang-ups?

    • TRUTH HURTS! says:

      Let the church say “AMEN”!

    • David says:

      No Bermudian applied for the job, so if your friends lost jobs AND CAN PAINT with QUALITY then why did they not apply. The job was in the paper. Why did a fast track take 6 months? then get turned down? That is the problem, if a Bermudian had applied then they would have long gone.

    • Dark visor says:

      what a horrid person

    • John Doe says:

      Its additudes like that which causes companies and people to pull out of Bermuda. Whos going to pay for you bling then?

  7. Uk says:

    Maybe we should all pack up and leave them to it..Enough already. bermuda has nice beaches thats about it though. Oh, some interesting history

    • Umum serious? says:

      Then why are you here? Obviously you are here enjoying those nice beaches and good weather oh and the history… not to mention better money, you have a problem with Bermuda then you can leave.. so rather then bash the country get out of it. Negativity is something Bermuda doesnt need.

  8. soon_gone says:

    90% of expats are here just for the virtually tax free money and nice weather.Once the time comes to leave they are happy to do just that.Many more are leaving now than arriving and this economy will suffer in all areas.Just go to Gorhams on a Saturday.There’s no line ups at the cash register.Two years ago it was difficult to find a shopping cart at Shelly Bay Marketplace on a Saturday,…now it’s virtually empty.

  9. betty Rech says:

    Non Bermudian coming here to work on a work permit know they cannot stay here for ever…. he was forutnate to have be here that long. However, if he had been here for over 2o years then surly he should have had the opportunity to apply for Long time residency. Unlucky…

    It is very hard to find a reliable, trust worthy, time keeper, to do a skilled job.

    These cleaning companies need to take on more Bermudians to clean windows, offices homes…that is a job that does not take skill.

    • Pat says:

      Cleaning may not take SKILL, but it does take COMMITMENT! I’ve hired several B’dian cleaners in the past 5 years – - ask me how many made it past the 3 month probationary period. ZERO. FACT.

      • Mountbatten says:

        @Pat Maybe it’s you . They all can’t be wrong . So take a long hard look in the mirror , and Clean up your act .

      • WHY? says:

        No Bermudian is going to work for the low pay you was paying them. Only a Non Bermudian could build a house off that check!

  10. TRUTH HURTS! says:

    Yes back-padle away!! Your issue was never that you were given a short amount of time to leave, you slandered Bermuda and even told international news that Bermuda was targeting British expats. Now you are saying you knew all along? So what case did you have to begin with? Of course people will comment and tell the real story. As for your claims that if you could return tomorrow that you wouldn’t–we all know that’s not the truth. Something Mr. Tomlinson seems to have a problem with, good you can’t come back and we don’t need people like you here if you can’t be an honest person. Your plans to cry to the DM and other news agencies backfired as even the British people agreed with Bermuda immigration. Also I believe it was me who called you a chav and I was right.

  11. BERMUDIANS FIRST!!!!!! says:

    In last weeks ad you wanted to run down my country and talk all of this “trash” because you and your wife were forced to leave.Stephen Tomlinson was made redundant after the fire at HWP, and applied for a work permit and it was declined. The Tomlinsons were given less than a month to leave Bermuda the report said. I don’t know what’s the big deal! It was very unfortunate that HWP burned down and not only did Stephen Tomlinson lose his job but it made my own BERMUDIANS lose jobs ! Hey Stephen and Kristy guess what a whole lot of BERMUDIANS lost their jobs at HWP as well! Stephen and Kristy YOU ARE NOT BERMUDIANS SO DON”T EVER IN YOUR LIVES EVER AGAIN RUN DOWN MY COUNTRY! And you have the nerve to say that “We are not dragging Bermuda’s name through the mud, we love the country and the people.I could swim, snorkel and bike my days away. It was a great life.WELL YOU WEREN’T SAYING THAT BEFORE YOU WERE RUNNING US DOWN TO THE GROUND and that vexes me!You also say and i quote ““If I was told I could go back tomorrow, I wouldn’t,” Mr Tomlinson said. “It’s not worth the heartache. WELL GOOD CAUSE WE DON”T WANT YOU HERE ANYWAY! GOOD RIDDENS AND PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR AND KEEP BERMUDA’s NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!WE DEFINITELY DON”T WANT YOU BACK NOW AFTER YOU HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY BERMUDA’s CHARACTER and REPUTATION INTERNATIONALLY! Your acting like your entitled to something! Sorry to bust your bubble but you aren’t entitled to NOTHING!IT WAS A PRIVELEDGE TO ALLOW YOU TO COME TO BERMUDA WITH YOUR WIFE AND WORK BUT YOUR ACTING LIKE IT WAS YOUR RIGHT!You should start a website and let millions of people know that you met your wife in a beautiful place called BERMUDA but i bet you that you won’t do that though! ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS MY OWN BERMUDIANS ARE OUT OF WORK !! DO U REALY THINK WE CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR WIFE? My family members that are BERMUDIANS lost jobs as well. There are THOUSANDS of BERMUDIANS OUT OF WORK RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, DID YOU KNOW THAT? MY OWN PEOPLE! I DON”T CARE ABOUT YOU! I don’t know why you were brought here anyway because BERMUDIANS COULD DO Stephen Tomlinson and his wife Kristy’s job!BERMUDIANS FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER THAT’S MY PHILOSOHPY! GET a job in YOUR OWN COUNTRY THAT PAYS GOOD!YOU CAN’T THAT’S WHY YOU FLEW THOUSANDS OF MILES TO GET HERE!SO Don’t come over here to MY COUNTRY and act like we OWE YOU something! You are a FOREINER SO DON’T EVER GET RUDE OR DISRESPECTFUL!When you come to Bermuda and you are not Bermudian you need to act like it is your first day on the job! Nobody goes to a new job and tries to take over or be rude on their first day, well the same applies when you visit Bermuda. You are a GUEST so BE NICE! I never want you to forget this saying “TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST!” So we are gonna take care of BERMUDA’s OWN PEOPLE FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER! I’m sure you can understand this basic and simple concept! You wouldn’t give your last piece of bread to a stranger if your OWN FAMILY WAS STARVING WOULD YOU! And if you would you are a FOOL! So the same applies to Bermuda right now! Bermudians FIRST AND EVERBODY ELSE AFTER!!

    Reply

    • domeafavorstayawayfromuk says:

      Ok you have a lot to say and its all nonsense, you do not know the family but you will criticize them and puff up your chest thinking that every one owes you some thing who is the one talking the kettle black, You have made it know that the only ones who are entitle are people like you, so do us a favor and give up your British passport and stay on the rock.

      • Maddog says:

        In last weeks ad you wanted to run down my country and talk all of this “trash” because you and your wife were forced to leave.Stephen Tomlinson was made redundant after the fire at HWP, and applied for a work permit and it was declined. The Tomlinsons were given less than a month to leave Bermuda the report said. I don’t know what’s the big deal! It was very unfortunate that HWP burned down and not only did Stephen Tomlinson lose his job but it made my own BERMUDIANS lose jobs ! Hey Stephen and Kristy guess what a whole lot of BERMUDIANS lost their jobs at HWP as well! Stephen and Kristy YOU ARE NOT BERMUDIANS SO DON”T EVER IN YOUR LIVES EVER AGAIN RUN DOWN MY COUNTRY! And you have the nerve to say that “We are not dragging Bermuda’s name through the mud, we love the country and the people.I could swim, snorkel and bike my days away. It was a great life.WELL YOU WEREN’T SAYING THAT BEFORE YOU WERE RUNNING US DOWN TO THE GROUND and that vexes me!You also say and i quote ““If I was told I could go back tomorrow, I wouldn’t,” Mr Tomlinson said. “It’s not worth the heartache. WELL GOOD CAUSE WE DON”T WANT YOU HERE ANYWAY! GOOD RIDDENS AND PLEASE DO ME A FAVOUR AND KEEP BERMUDA’s NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!WE DEFINITELY DON”T WANT YOU BACK NOW AFTER YOU HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY BERMUDA’s CHARACTER and REPUTATION INTERNATIONALLY! Your acting like your entitled to something! Sorry to bust your bubble but you aren’t entitled to NOTHING!IT WAS A PRIVELEDGE TO ALLOW YOU TO COME TO BERMUDA WITH YOUR WIFE AND WORK BUT YOUR ACTING LIKE IT WAS YOUR RIGHT!You should start a website and let millions of people know that you met your wife in a beautiful place called BERMUDA but i bet you that you won’t do that though! ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS MY OWN BERMUDIANS ARE OUT OF WORK !! DO U REALY THINK WE CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR WIFE? My family members that are BERMUDIANS lost jobs as well. There are THOUSANDS of BERMUDIANS OUT OF WORK RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, DID YOU KNOW THAT? MY OWN PEOPLE! I DON”T CARE ABOUT YOU! I don’t know why you were brought here anyway because BERMUDIANS COULD DO Stephen Tomlinson and his wife Kristy’s job!BERMUDIANS FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER THAT’S MY PHILOSOHPY! GET a job in YOUR OWN COUNTRY THAT PAYS GOOD!YOU CAN’T THAT’S WHY YOU FLEW THOUSANDS OF MILES TO GET HERE!SO Don’t come over here to MY COUNTRY and act like we OWE YOU something! You are a FOREINER SO DON’T EVER GET RUDE OR DISRESPECTFUL!When you come to Bermuda and you are not Bermudian you need to act like it is your first day on the job! Nobody goes to a new job and tries to take over or be rude on their first day, well the same applies when you visit Bermuda. You are a GUEST so BE NICE! I never want you to forget this saying “TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST!” So we are gonna take care of BERMUDA’s OWN PEOPLE FIRST AND EVERYBODY ELSE AFTER! I’m sure you can understand this basic and simple concept! You wouldn’t give your last piece of bread to a stranger if your OWN FAMILY WAS STARVING WOULD YOU! And if you would you are a FOOL! So the same applies to Bermuda right now! Bermudians FIRST AND EVERBODY ELSE AFTER!!

  12. summer lover says:

    @betty Rech
    from : http://www.bermuda-online.org/citizenship.htm

    Permanent Residents Certificates (PRCs)
    Persons who apply for the PRC are usually referred to as Long Term Residents. Bermudians who object to them becoming citizens despite their long continuous period of residency – which would more than qualify them by international standards – can refer to the Coalition for the Rights of Long Term Residents. It is believed to include members of the Bermuda-Portuguese Association, West Indian Association and others.

    Minor concessions were granted in 2002 to some non-Bermudians with over 20 years of continuous residence and demonstrated good character and conduct. They were given Permanent Residents Certificates (PRCs).

    They took effect on October 31, 2002 with the enactment of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 2002. Having a qualifying Bermudian connection is key to getting Bermuda Status (citizenship) after 20 years. Otherwise, there is no chance at all of getting it, even if born here, unless a parent is also Bermudian. Those whose brothers and sisters are Bermudians, or who were registered as voters on the Parliamentary Register before May 1, 1976 are entitled to apply for Bermuda Status if they qualify. All others can apply for Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) if they qualify. So far, some 800 persons have done the latter. Application criteria include being ordinarily resident in Bermuda before 31 July 1989 and for a period of 20 years immediately before application; are at least 40 years of age; and are of good character and conduct. Their full names, addresses, parishes and postal codes are published in the Official Gazette. Those with a Working Resident Certificate (WRC) – introduced in 1998 – must still apply for a PLC as some years have passed since they proved their eligibility. Having a PRC will provide security of employment and residence to long term residents. But having either a PRC or WRC does not entitle any non-Bermudian to buy lower or mid-priced real estate. They too are limited to the top 5% in price and Annual Rentable Value (ARV).

    So he ‘missed the boat’ and should not have expected to stay. They were living under a very false sense of security. I wonder how Immigration let that one slip?

  13. Tommy Chong says:

    Cleaning companies are not the only ones who need to take on more Bermudians. Many restaurants, retail & grocery stores here need to do the same since they have positions in these places that does not take skill to do but still have many foreigners doing them. There are also many Bermudian electricians & tile layers that are reliable, trust worthy & keep time that have been laid off while their foreign counterparts have been allowed to stay on. Then there are other Bermudians who have accountant & business management degrees who are out of work while accounting departments have full foreign staff & other businesses have foreign managers that have never proven they took a managerial course but have the job. There’s a lot of employers here letting their foreign staff hook up their friends & families in their country with a job in Bermuda.

  14. Rachael says:

    Honestly these comments irritate the breath out of me. If Bermuda is so bad then leave. For your information I am not a lazy bast@rd as so many of you have pegged me as a Bermudian. You spew hatred and ignorance but have the nerve to talk about the citizens of the country that is plumping your pockets. Your attitudes are both disgusting and reprehensible. @UK. Maybe you should go home;one less ignorant person.

    • Liars says:

      One less ignorant person eh? HA!

      • Rachael says:

        Yes. Ignorant like you. Are you suggesting I am ignorant because I am Bermudian? Or is it because you do not have the mental capacity to understand what ignorance is? As they say, ignorance is bliss and you ‘liars’ are obviously in a state of bliss.

        Perhaps I should point out that at no point does this country need any more hatred and what you are doing is stirring up hatred and evilness. I do not hate ex-pats. Nor do I believe they are all as moronic as you. I am simply suggesting that if you hate the culture and people of this country then you should leave. As so many have pointed out, immigration is not holding you hostage here.

        Let me know where you are from so I can come to your country and see if you are all so much superior to Bermudians why you would want to come here in the first place.

    • ABC says:

      WELL SAID ; )

      DE GOOD LORD NEVER SLEEPS

    • ABC says:

      WELL SAID RACHEAL :)

  15. TRUTH HURTS! says:

    Yes back-padle away!! Your issue was never that you were given a short amount of time to leave, you slandered Bermuda and even told international news that Bermuda was targeting British expats. Now you are saying you knew all along? So what case did you have to begin with? Of course people will comment and tell the real story. As for your claims that if you could return tomorrow that you wouldn’t–we all know that’s not the truth. Something Mr. Tomlinson seems to have a problem with, good you can’t come back and we don’t need people like you here if you can’t be an honest person. Your plans to cry to the DM and other news agencies backfired as even the British people agreed with Bermuda immigration. Also I believe it was me who called you a chav and I was right.

    • Liars says:

      don’t need people like you here? UMMMM if it wasn’t for White people like this……what would YOU have?

      • Liars says:

        just how do i know you are black?

        • TRUTH HURTS! says:

          Apparently you can’t read dummy because nowhere did I mention race! I said dishonest lying people which was at the end of that sentence you inbred moron! White people like who? You’re a f*cking moron. Lay off the drugs.

      • hmm says:

        That was a very ignorant comment. The foundations, infrastructures and and profits of contemporary Western society today are in part directly a result of the yields of enslaved Africans and their descendants. To suggest that we are somehow beholden to people of European descent for our current prosperity ignores the fact that they are also beholden to us, and at what cost.

  16. Holla! says:

    Thanks Rachael…..my thoughts exactly! The majority of expats that leave Bermuda do go back home well off sorry to not be able to continue to fill their pockets.

    @soon_gone……. the lines at Gorhams and Marketplace are empty because the expats have sent/plan to send their pay check back home via Western Union or Moneygram. If you haven’t already noticed, check those lines out on a Friday or Sunday afternooon! Actually, great place for the immigration police.

    • Tommy Chong says:

      Yup! They hit the moneygram right after they go to St. Teresa & the Portuguese Bakery to give money to those cooking there cultural food. BTW these expats who do this are NOT portuguese even though its quite strange that a Portuguese Bakery would sell food that’s NOT portuguese on a sunday. The moneygrams are only a tip of the iceberg as many have standing orders at the banks here to transfer the majority of their savings back to their country monthly. We are losing millions of dollars earned here every year whereas Bermudians no matter how many trips they take will still spend most of their money here.

      • Anon Ymous says:

        Tommy,

        You seem very informed so you may be able to enlighten me here; on an annual basis, what are the actual amounts involved, of expat earnings, which move outside of Bermuda’s borders and secondly, what percentage of that amount is generated by Bermudian commerce / manufacturing and what percentage is ‘imported’ (or assumed) from international commerce and would never grace these shores (contributing to the payroll tax and social insurance coffers) without the presence of those expats?

        • Tommy Chong says:

          How would I know the actual amounts? There’s no way of figuring actual amounts when there are no statistics done to collect factual numbers & I”m sure if the bank or western union was ask to give them they would refuse & say its an invasion of privacy. What I do know for a fact is that there is a group of expats living here that are from a country that has an economy that mainly revolves around their the workers they ship out to other countries. I also know that there are close to 2000 of these expats from this country working here. I’ve heard it with my own ears coming from their own mouths that each of them send back 2000 a month. The math on this is not advanced calculus. Even if I dropped 500 of that 2000 people to keep it at a more controlled estimate it will still work out to 36 million a year. None of these people bring the money here they make it here since they don’t come here for the beauty of island life they come to make the Bermuda dollar since one of our dollars converts to about 43 of their peso. These pesos BTW are not central or south american pesos these are from a country thousands of miles away from central or south america. They come here with little money at all & their employer initially is the one who pays for their accommodations & any of their other necessities. This is not to say they are poor contrary to what they want people to believe because the poor in their country never leave & live a shorter life expectancy then them & are treated as outcast in their country. These expats are all middle class & live good lives in their country with the cost of living so low their they just come here because they want to be wealthy & live a luxurious life within a few years from working here. Mostly everyone of these expats works a job that takes very little or no skill to do & there are many unemployed here that posses these skills so these are not IB workers which should answer your Bermudian commerce / manufacturing question. Till about seven years ago we did not have these people working here & Bermuda was a lot better off. I’d rather see them go than Stephen Tomlinson & his family as I’m sure this family was working towards the growth of Bermuda & was not sending loads of money back to their country since the Bermuda dollar is peanuts to the British pound & would do little to help them live a luxurious life in England. The Tomlinsons were here for this islands beauty as Steven said, “I could swim, snorkel and bike my days away. It was a great life.” I respect this over these people’s get rich quick & never mind who I step on attitude.

          • Anon Ymous says:

            You’re opening question pretty much sums it up, you have no way of knowing and therefore sweeping generalisations will work just fine! It’s fairly clear which group of expats you’re talking about and I find it hard to believe that you heard each of the 2000 of them saying that they send $2000 / month home or in fact that all of them even have that much take home pay in the first instance – so, for sake of argument and this is very generous, maybe you heard 200 of these expats say this (assuming you don’t speak their native Tongue and they were speaking English for your benefit), that’s still only %10. How much money would you estimate that the wealthier residents of Bermuda collectively plough into overseas stock markets / properties / investments? Isn’t the principal the same? To me, at least, it’s exactly the same – people have the right to do exactly as they wish with their own money having fulfilled their legal and social obligations as far as tax and social security.

    • Dark visor says:

      line ups are empty because the stuff they sell is over priced and crap! it’s cheaper to import from amazon, and get exactly what you are looking for!

  17. Really? says:

    It really pains me to read articles like this as a Bermudian.

    And to be honest there is something the British Government can do they can ban all Bermudian residents from entering the UK without VISAS and so on.

    Its ridiculous Slavery still exists in the form of work permits and term limits, here come work on our island spend shedloads of money in our economy and then F-off so a lazy half a** bermudian can attempt to fill your position.

    DONT even try to go independent Bermuda I will fight you and im not the only one and if you think regiment will stop me. Be aware i am a part of their ranks…

    • WHY? says:

      @ Really
      Spoken like a true coward, like you rambo LMAO please what a joke!

      • Jeff says:

        @ Really I don’t think you are a Bermudian. As a white Bermudian I am sick of people slgging off Bermudians (they are mostly expats) All this RIP Bermuda is a scare tactic to keep the status quo. I know a lot of exempt companies that have mostly foreign staff. Yes they are making millions off Bermudas back but how is Bermuda benefiting, I forgot, they go to restaurants that employ mostly expats. If you don’t like it here leave. PLEASE

  18. Craig F. says:

    Readers, the challenge for this family was packing up after 20 years on the island in a very short period- that indeed is unfortunate.
    The challenge, however is NOT whether, this couple should have received permanent residency after 20 years.

    The Immigration Office has its parameters and guidelines on granting qualifying ex-pats this privilege – considering a variety of factors.
    Note, no other Immigration office around the world is expected to disclose the particulars of each case with the public or in an on-line forum such as this. Why should Bermuda?
    Yes, we are a colony of Britain, but these colonial ties should not define day to day practices by the local civil servants in Government – not matter what Government is ruling.

    In addition, (directly in response to “allcloggedup”), it is very immature to label Bermudian’s both in the white and blue collar fields as “lazy”.
    I will admit there are individuals who are not qualified, or some who are not willing to ‘pull their weight’ 100%, but that does NOT represent this entire nation and the working professionals within.
    These aforementioned challenges commonly hinder many places of work all over the world – NOT JUST IN BERMUDA, or with one particular nationality.

    That said, please help to remove the “colonial stigma” that Bermudians are lazy (when compared to existing ex-pats, who come from larger, faster paced jurisdictions).
    You CAN find good and honest personnel on this island who are Bermudian – just remove that bias from the equation when doing so. This labelling is extremely unacceptable, prejudice and breathes ignorance.

    About me: I am a 29-year working professional with both an undergraduate and post graduate degree and several professional designations. No political ties, as I vote for MP not Political Party.
    I have nearly 7 years work experience and have the opportunity to work aboard.Born &, raised in Bermuda; attending schools in the public sector.

    There are many Bermudian Professionals like me, who fit this profile. I am no exception.

    In sum, to the family who recently departed our shores, the situation is very unfortunate, BUT Bermudian Nationals have to be given first preference within their place of birth.
    This is commonly seen in many Immigration Laws around the world with regards to Employment. I agree Bermuda Immigration should table transition periods for guest workers, to provide ample time to settle their affairs, but of course within reason.

  19. Mountbatten says:

    The Bermuda Gov. never once told you to go back home . The local yokel mouthpiece you hired got the phone slammed down in his ear when he opened his ignorant chops to the F.O. 240 months in Bermuda and you couldn’t come up with a measly $120,000 to secure your family’s future in the kids birthplace ! Or so you say you needed to stay here , wrongly .
    You have now put Bermuda’s immigration dept on notice and alerted them to other expats who have been here way to long . Every panel beater in Bermuda is very proficient with a spray gun as well , you would have found that out very quickly when you landed here in ’91 . Busby and Webb and many others were experienced in the trade well before you held your first crayon .
    If you fail to plan , than you plan to fail . Good luck , and say hi to Harry Potter when you see him .

  20. Kathy says:

    I am sorry they were served, like so many others, such short notice. They should be given a year’s notice to get organised.

    I can’t even get permanent residency and I was BORN here and lived here 5 years MORE than them!!! My two children won’t ever get anything and they were also both BORN here (children BORN in Bermuda to a person BORN in Bermuda). It is insane!!!

    Bermuda can’t even take care of it’s own…you aren’t missing anything by moving on! Bermuda will reap what it is currently sowing!

    • Mountbatten says:

      Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe you should be thinking about moving on , or shall you too suffer the humiliation of being forced out ? Just asking ?

  21. smh says:

    I think it’s shameful how we as BERMUDIANS put down our own country. There’s a difference between constructive criticism and just being plain unpatriotic. If you don’t like the country and all you plan to do is complain, then good riddance, commenters! Half of you all’s comments have NOTHING to do with the story, all you’re doing is making your home seem like the worst place in the world.

    GET A LIFE OR GET OUT.

  22. thatgirlinbda says:

    As a guest worker in Bermuda I’m appalled at the contempt and hatred that expatriate workers spew at Bermudians. It is disgusting that you would be a guest in their country and make the statements that you make. Every country has immigration practices by which they abide and you all seem to be fine with the practices of the US and the UK and other jurisdictions but because the Bermuda government wants to manage their boarders they are viewed as capricious or malicious to expatriates.

    What type of upbringing do you have that you would go into someone’s home and insult them to their faces. I can certainly understand why the relations between the local population and some expatriate workers are strained. Remember you are a guest in their home and you can be asked to leave just as if they were a guest in your home they could be asked to leave. Shame on all of you!

    • Dark visor says:

      it is disgusting the contempt and hatred that bermudians spew at expats who come here to do the jobs that bermudians are too lazy and impatient to learn how to do. expats dig bermuda out of a hole, not the other way round. watch as the expats continue to leave. we should be pleading with them to stay and continue to pay $2k a month for a windowless basement we call a studio apartment. we’re biting off the hand that feeds us.

  23. White Bermudian male says:

    “They should have sent us back when the law changed instead of holding out for so long just to send us home.”

    That’s is the the dumbest statement so far from this man. No one held your family back, you need to man up and take responsibility for you actions. You knew you missed the deadline of 1989. You could have contacted Immigration and asked for more time on the 21 days, no one kicked you out.

  24. John Doe says:

    Wonder how your 70k merc is going to look after the bouy has been around the corner for his Elephant liquid lunch from Serpentine Liquors.

  25. rugbyfan says:

    I don’t think people are understanding their perspective.
    Living somewhere for 20 years, whether bermudian or not, it becomes your home.
    The sad thing is that after 20 years thats it, their children were born there and they lived there for a long period of time.
    It is the fault of the government because if they want a maximum of 6 years for a work permit it should apply to everyone and this would then prevent issues like this happening because this wont be the only time that this occurs.

    • Darren says:

      It is not the fault of the Government rather the fault of their greedy employers who refused to abide by the law or attempt to be a good corporate citizen. They should have dismissed this man long ago after he had trained a Bermudian to take his place.
      These people did not use the required foresight with theirs and their childrens’ futures. Ask Kirsty why they didn’t start planning when her job at Ariel Sands no longer existed. She saw it happen to others she worked with so why did she think it would not happen to them? Maybe because they were living too good a life and rubbing shoulders with the elite so of course it couldn’t possibly happen to them. Tough, I say. Get crackin!

  26. SpecialGIrl4You says:

    The family also had plenty of notice to leave Bermuda. In fact they had a housesale which lasted for at least 3 months….so why are they telling you folks they only had 3 weeks….??

  27. Prayerful says:

    I really don’t see how Mr. Tomlinson can blame the Government for his demise. He was made redundant by HWP after the fire, as were some Bermudians.

    Why should the Government give him a long-term residency certificate if he did not apply for it.

    Come on Mr. & Mrs. Tomlinson, give us a break!

  28. Apples says:

    You will look back on this as a blessing as you can see by the nasty posts on here Bermuda has some real gems ” feel the love?” most are xenaphobic “like crabsin a bucket” and God forbid if they amend the human rights act the only other folks they hate more than guest workers are gay people they all come from under their stones for that one ,homophobic ,
    seems to me like Mandela says no one is born hateing another person it has to be learnt.
    You only have to open any local newspaper to see the reality robbing ,stealing murdering and abusing each other ! Even the big man might have left a long time ago!

    Eat those apples!

    • White Bermudian male says:

      Another apple that’s fell from the dumb tree. Yes we do have problems, but you better take a closer look at your town, city or Country. Bermuda compared too the rest of the World is a gem. You must be residing in the UK to be posting on here at 5:42am Bermuda time. Went there on vacation, hated it.

  29. luke warm says:

    On the topic at hand, if the truth is as they claim – that they were given only a month to leave – that
    is a shame, and maybe in the future the Ministry could use a bit more discretion when asking longer-term residents to leave. I wish the family the best in re-settling in the UK but I hope they do understand
    and appreciate that in tough times Government must govern in the best interest of the citizens. This is
    no different than in the US, Canada, and even the UK. Even if the terms and conditions are different in
    those countries, the terms and conditions were obviously made clear when they came to Bermuda.

    On the vileness and hatred directed towards Bermuda/Bermudians, you should follow Rachael’s advice, it couldn’t be put any better.

    @UK, when you’re all packed and ready to go, I’d be more than happy to wave you off at the airport.
    The British (seem to) have a nasty habit of spewing vileness toward foreigners in the UK and, from what I read on here or the RG, towards locals when they find themselves in the position of being a foreigner.

    I have lived in the UK (in London and North England and on my Bermudian passport, not a British passport) and I don’t for a minute think there is any truth to the implied message of things “being much better there” than they are here. There are two youtube videos below of recent racial abuse directed towards foreigners on public transportation in the UK, with one lady being prosecuted for her behaviour. These only touch on the racial tensions that I observed in the UK. If this is so much better than Bermuda, then you should get back asap.

    But first take a look to see what you’re going home to…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHrL0UXPvOI
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh5kgJQ6-xU

    • White Bermudian male says:

      @ Apple.

      Eat those apples!

    • Anon Ymous says:

      In a similar vein (except in the seriousness of how it’s pursued), it may also be worth mentioning the vile anti Pilipino graffiti daubed all over this island.

  30. Onlooker says:

    The thing thats makes ME as a BERMUDIAN laugh is other Bermudians…Aren’t we quick to foreget that we are a BRITISH COLONY and that MOST Bermudaian have Flocked to the UK to LIVE, WORK and do Schooling out there??? As far as I’m concerened Britians should be able to LIVE, WORK, and SCHOOL here just like WE are allowed in their country….I feel sorry for the Bermudians living in the UK that might be forced out should the QUEEN decide to do the same thing that our SELFISH Bermudians have allowed. But yet we hail the Queen when she comes.

    But then you have Ewart Brown allowing the Paragians to LIVE and WORK here….Some of you Bermudians really need a Reality Check….Our country is in shambles and your small minded views are ONLY making it worse. I truly feel sorry for you all who have such close minded views.

    To the Thomlinson’s I wish you would’nt give up the Fight!! You really need to prove a point and teach us the teu Value of CITIZENSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • hmm says:

      Selfish? No, perhaps protectionist would be a better word. Many countries have protectionist policies in place during times as such (deep recession) to keep their citizens working. And by the way the QUEEN does not make such decisions, the UK Parliament does. I’m sure the British being a sensible people would understand our protectionist policy, and even consider a similar tack…if they haven’t already, considering that we have inherited most of our legal framework, laws and system of government from them. It is also ignorant to say that “MOST “Bermudaian” have Flocked to the UK to LIVE, WORK and do Schooling out there..” This is an innacurate generalization. Some have taken advantage of our recently being able to attain British citizenship, for sure, but you’ll likely find that many more have Flocked to the United States and Canada to LIVE, Work, and do Schooling out there…

  31. BermudaLuvin says:

    Wow all this drama (on these posts) for a family going back to the UK…Not to a war torn country -> Afghanistan, Iraq.. or a third world country->Haiti etc. They are blessed to have had the opportunity to live in Bermuda. Had a great experience now they have to close that chapter of their life and just move ON!
    We used to live in the Middle East (Oman) as an expats. My kids were born there too. None of us we offered citizenship or any privileges locals receive (We knew this when we decided to live there). After living there for 32 years I lost my job to a local and we had to relocate ASAP. So I understand what they are going thru, change is a scary thing. But my kids (At age13 & 15 when we had to leave) adjusted very well to their new environment.

    This whole situation has gotten out of hand. This couple sound like a bunch of spoilt brats…if they don’t get their way they are not happy. The law’s apply to EVERYONE. After this ordeal I don’t think they can even visit Bermuda. As they will be received with rotten apples and angry Bermudians lol

  32. Baltic Fury says:

    Ah this weather, what a day, it doesn’t take long to want to move to Hull.

  33. Tom says:

    I think we have looked passed the basic issue of this work permit denial. What was the outcome with the job in question? Was the position denied on the basis that a qualified Bermudian filled the position? Was the job in question ever filled by local or expat? or is “Mercedes” still looking? Did anyone bother to check when they wrote the article? Seems to me this is poor reporting and of course all you drama queens will jump on the ban wagon and it turns into a hate debate of local vs expat a Good vs Evil saga.

    it seems nobody is able to have discussions or open debate without turning into a hate debate.
    Maybe better reporting of a whole story in the future will fine tune the discussion forums. Or is poor reporting the idea to get everyone on this web site?