I’ll be human enough to admit I don’t know everything but I do know many of the goings on in Bermuda but sadly knowing doesn’t do much to solve a problem perpetrated by big wig business owners who have politicians backing them on in both parties. Running for office won’t do much in this type of scenario when one would have to run in one of the only two parties in Bermuda to be really heard. Did anyone remember what was said by the independents? I doubt it. Once in one of the parties & heard what next? Get slandered by your own team like other politicians have already because your comrades are business partners with the ones you speak out against. This will not carry a voice very far.

I post in hopes that maybe a local who has been shafted out of work will read & realize there are more than them who know. Maybe they will feel free to voice on here & wherever else also making the voice louder. It’s sad but I must keep my occupations & my inner voice separate with a screen name so as to protect the bread & butter I earn. I know others who must do the same & are worse off then me because their occupation is directly threatened daily unlike me & all they can do is either take the abuse or let their family starve so they chose the abuse.

I have tried to do my part by contacting immigration about foreigners that I knew who’s permits were up but stayed on till the employer got it renewed & foreigners who came here as a tourist & got a job permit while here as tourist. I’ve also reported foreign workers who had less qualifications than a Bermudian I knew who applied for a job but got the job instead. In all cases I was told it would be checked into but it never was.

The sad sad truth is just as many other governments who claim democracy ours is not for the people by the people. This is why so much has gone wrong on this island & why many have failed their young. When you have nationals who can’t find a steady job so to make ends meet must work shifts that only pay enough to barely make ends meet this is the society that is created. It is something that happened to America long ago & now it is happening to us.

Don’t worry about the Nay Sayers they will dam you if you do or dam you if you don’t …………

In saying the above, I recognise that there are those who do not care whether or not they hire/train Bermudians and who advertise for positions knowning full well who they will hire and use the Bermudian “lack of skills/experience” as their excuse. Sometimes that is the case, sometimes it is not. All efforts should be made moving forward to ensure the latter does not happen as best as is possible.

So, are you stating that when an foreign employee is hired they are not capable of fulfilling the the role they were specifically hired for in the first place? I’ll buy that on the condition that an employee is a non IB worker that so much money & time has been put into to develop. In those cases you are just proving my point below to poster Frank that non IB employers hire expats who must be trained over Bermudians who could have been trained in the same fashion. As for IB doing this you’ll have no sale off of me. IB is not going to hire someone wet behind the ears to do a job that starts at $40,000 plus a year. Besides f they did just the same as non IB employers they are lying to immigration about the experience level they need from an employee which I believe many non IB employers do but not so sure a multimillion dollar company would go above the law to do.

In regards to your the grass is greener in dublin & switzerland knowing what I know I will have to put my wellies on for that one. Dublin & switzerland have extremely strict policies compared to ours. Both cater towards EU citizens before any other Nationality in the world. Those with the Bermudians are xenophobic pipe should put my previous sentence in it light it up & take a puff. In switzerland construction, hospitality, cleaning & security services are a few of the jobs that cannot get a permit that exceeds 9 years & permits are only given for any profession if no local equivalent worker (Swiss national or foreigner already in the Swiss labour market) is available to fill the position. Also there are a limited number of permits given a year for certain jobs in switzerland & once exhausted no more can be given. Yes different to Bermuda in switzerland some can get settlement permits but those are only given to those who have university degree required jobs not all permit holders. In Dublin work permits are available for occupations with an annual salary of €30,000 or more. Permits for jobs with an annual salary below €30,000 will only be considered in exceptional cases. Then there are those jobs that work permits are not given for at all by a new law created in 2009. Those jobs that have a ban on permits are as listed.

Clerical and administrative staff
General operatives and labourers
Operator and production staff
Retail sales staff, sales representatives and supervisory or specialist sales staff
Drivers – from 1 June 2009 this includes HGV drivers
Nursery/crèche workers, child minders/nannies
Hotel, tourism and catering staff except chefs
The following craft workers and apprentice/trainee craft workers: bookbinders, bricklayers, cabinet makers, carpenters/joiners, carton makers, fitters – construction plant, electricians, instrumentation craftspeople, fitters, tilers – floor/wall, mechanics – heavy vehicles, instrumentation craftspersons, metal fabricators, mechanics – motor, originators, painters and decorators, plumbers, printers, engineers – refrigeration, sheet metal workers, tool makers, vehicle body repairers, machinists – wood, plasterers and welders
Domestic workers including carers in the home and childminders (for work permit applications received on or after 1 June 2009)
Work riders – horseracing – (for work permit applications received on or after 1 June 2009)

So the grass is not greener but if minister fahy wants to take the Dublin laws as a map of where to go with permits that’s fine with me.

Since Bermuda’s inception this island has been a transient environment for commerce and people who originated as foreign workers. Without such a diverse and rich history in trade that is paired with foreign investment we would probably have an economy less or similar to Haiti. There is no such thing as a Native in Bermuda, everyone at some point came from somewhere else. But our economy relies of foreign investment, it is not self sustaining.

Present day…2013…Tucker’s Town scenario now applies to ALL of Bermuda, not just one area. Same motives as Tucker’s Town…but just not as obvious…instead disguised as ‘term limit policies’ and ‘immigration policies’. Goal: to push, move out and eliminate the presence of locals in the Bermuda business arena.

Prediction or Reality?:

—-> Bermuda sells her soul and sells out her people for the sake of appealing to and keeping foreign investors, IB, and tourist/visitors.

—-> Bermuda no longer resembles ‘Bermuda’. Local workers are replaced by foreign workers who sell the ‘Bermuda’ product.

—-> the primary focus of Bermuda is to solicit and keep more money and investors on the island, not addressing social and community issues.

At present and in future there is every opportunity afforded qualified and professional Bermudians. Not only that, there will be more opportunity the more executives decide to set-up shop or keep their operations on the island. At present, immigration is the biggest barrier to Bermuda growing it’s economy.

I do not disagree with you – - my post was more of a position paper to highlight how some may feel about the topic.

However, the balance of the “need” and “want” from IB companies has to be set and maintained.

Yng Black Mind

I wrote this on a another reply this would be the solution to the problem you mention.

I presently work in IB, and I know that they are willing to help. But these companies want to be associated with success and not failure. So often times it seems that they help those who need it the least, those who are already on the path to success. They are not in the business of getting down in the mud to help us out of our own mess. They will not create programs for us. But if we are able to come up with good programs that benefit our community, that show great promise and success for our young people, the companies will readily jump on board to assist financially. It’s up to us to make it happen. It has always been up to us and it always will be.

“I just ask the question because that’s how some in our community feel about IB – – that is just for an elite few, thus they are not involved.” – don’t get me wrong but working in IB is, for the most part, not for everybody. When talent is bought in from all over the world you can’t have Joe Schmo working just because he is Bermudian and feels entitled to do so. With that being said there are numerous functions within an IB company that one doesn’t have to be ‘elite’ to be involved with. I think a common misconception is that IB-companies are not welcoming to Bermudians… this is flat-out wrong. I think you will find many (most?) like having an internationally diverse workforce. And when Bermudians are ready to be promoted, they will be.

“I just hope that the policies and procedures that are put in place do not put Bermudians and Bermuda at a disadvantage for the sake of pandering to the IB companies.” – when policies are put in place that benefit IB-companies Bermuda will never be put at a disadvantage. And when IB accounts for almost all of our economy we can pander to them all day long…

Just because someone has an opinion that is different from yours doesnt imply they are uneducated or xenophobic.
There are other ways to increase our competitiveness and economic situation other then selling out Bermuda.

I feel the need to let you know that it’s not just a benefit to this island when expats come to Bermuda. It benefits them, and their families. You are focusing on the benefit of country, but you and I know these people came here to make money for themselves. I am sure when the people decided to move here knew the rules, so who is actually trying to have their cake and eat it too. You knew at somepoint you would have to leave, so why are people acting like they have been done wrong. Be thankful you had the opportunity to come to this island, make good money, and when your time is done, pack up and leave. It happens all around the world, and it has to be monitored even closer on small islands like Bermuda.

I understand the concept of term limits and why the previous government believed in them. I also understand why Minister Fahy and the new government want to do away with them – - and I am torn between both ideals.

As a nationalist, I see the need to secure jobs and opportunities for Bermudians and in some cases that is not happening. Just because expats workers are here, that doesn’t equate to Bermudians working in IB – or feeding off the benefits of IB. A statement above really bothered me – - “while young unskilled Bermudians remain sidelined, I’m really tired of seeing the easy jobs truck drivers, waiters, dishwashers, and other labor intensive jobs going to expats when there are 10,000 locals that need employment.” I understand the point but my question is why do Bermudians need to cover these types of jobs? Why is IB not trying to engage Bermudians for the top paying jobs in their companies (on a regular)? Before people attack me, I am well aware that IB companies offer some of our young Bermudians scholarships, internships, and the like – - and I believe that’s awesome, I do! I just ask the question because that’s how some in our community feel about IB – - that is just for an elite few, thus they are not involved.

However, I do understand that IB is vital to our country and their inclusion is necessary and welcomed. The previous government did not put out the welcome mat and that has cost us as a nation. We need to be seen to be welcoming to the IB community as their investment in our economy will benefit all of us.

I applaud the Minister for tackling this problem head on – - I just hope that the policies and procedures that are put in place do not put Bermudians and Bermuda at a disadvantage for the sake of pandering to the IB companies. My country is not a “street walker” – - let’s not treat her like one.

Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)

Simple economics.

Bermudian in IB