Immigration Inspectors Visit Grotto Bay Hotel
Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy confirmed that Department of Immigration Inspectors visited the property of the Grotto Bay Hotel earlier today [Apr 3] to investigate an immigration violation complaint.
As the matter is still in its investigation stages, the Minister advised that it “would be premature to provide further comment on the specific incident.”
The Minister said, “Employers should be aware that as we move forward with our work permit reforms the enforcement component will be strengthened.
“The Immigration and Protection Act 1956, places a burden on employers to verify the status of a prospective employee and to ensure that unauthorised guest workers are not hired.”
The Minister noted that an effective work site enforcement strategy will be implemented to address both employers who knowingly hire unauthorised workers and workers who are performing duties outside of conditions prescribed by their work permit.
Investigations will also involve egregious violations of criminal statutes by employers and widespread abuses such as harbouring, fraud or worker exploitation, Government said.
Minister Fahy concluded, “Essentially, the public can expect a new get-tough approach towards work permit violators and employers who knowingly contravene the Act.”
I’ll given them this. This is something the PLP never did.
That much being said, I’m sure the crackdowns will only be in hospitality and construction.
They’ll leave front street, reid street, and Pitts Bay all alone.
What, to catch all those middle aged men in tan pants with kids in school? You think they’re working illegally?
Middle aged men in tan pants are not the only ones who work on front, reid, & pitts bay. I’m glad government has pushed on this & they need to keep on pushing. Government needs to get immigration to check the background of all permit workers credentials. Immigration needs to make sure permit holders didn’t get their diploma from Recto University.
Better than an Associate degree from Bermuda college!
Bermuda College is a great starting point. Don’t run it down, unless of course you attained your degree from there and are claiming that’s the reason your life has amounted to nothing.
An Associate degree from Bermuda College can get someone an entry level job in most countries in most of the fields the degree is for.
A diploma from Recto University can get someone imprisoned and then deported & told never to come back in most countries except those like Bermuda who’s immigration is clueless on how to detect those types of degrees. A degree from Recto University is worth less than a pack of charmin ultra softs literally & figuratively.
used or unused?
¿qué
Charmin ultra soft – used or unused?
Wake up mate.
I had thought that’s what you meant but wasn’t sure because many people think they are too proper to go there. Since you don’t mind the potty talk I might as well answer the question best as I can.
Used or unused would probably depend on who used it. I could imagine some kook paying a pretty penny for some charmin ultra soft used by Brad Pit, Angelina Jolie or some other famous icon. Not me though I would opt for using a recto diploma to clean my recto. Even if its not as soft & cushiony it’s probably a tad bit more sanitary than a used piece of charmin.
What if someone just put it on the kitchen floor and peed on it?
I had to actually Google recto University and all I can say is WOW!
Tommy Chong – you’re so clever!
I’m a fan of yours, you know. You never failed to make me laugh with your comments.
Good researching though.
LOL, I’d be surprised if there were any undocumented workers in intl business. Doesn’t work that way.
Of course not but the majority of permits under plp were not for IB. Most permits given out in Bermuda’s history but the least given to IB.
OBA if you really want to fix the mess plp made leave no stone unturned even if it means looking into the employments that your business partners made. Letting business partners slide was plp’s mistake don’t let it be yours or you will not get my vote again & neither will you get the vote of the thousands unemployed.
AMEN!
Way past time for an island wide sweep of employers who cheat their employees on payroll deductions, pension and health benefits. Crack down on these employers will level the playing field.
Yes indeed !!!!!!!!dirty employers
I agree with this 100%. I know of three people that in the last few years went to the hospital or doctor and found out after getting a bill that their Health Insurance had been suspended because their employers were not paying their insures. What happened to the employers…nothing. They “came to an agreement and settled with either the employee or insurance comany” and that was it!
How many of you know for sure that your social insurance, pension and payroll tax that is getting taken out of your check is being paid on ypour behalf. i bet that answer is 0% because we have no way of checking.
We used to be able to check our Social Insurance / Pension online automatically to make sure that payments were being made. Now you have to email and request that info. Seems like a step backwards to me.
MINISTERS OF GOVERNMENT OBA / UBP / PLP / INDEPENDANTS CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE IT LAW THAT HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES, PENSION COMPANIES, PAYROLL OFFICE, SOCIAL INSURANCE OFFICE ETC..PHONE US AND SEND THE EMPLOYEE A LETTER TO OUR HOMES INDICATING THAT OUR INSURANCE, PENSION ETC HAS BEEN UNPAID OR CANCELLED!
Currently, this info goes to the Employer. Its no good sending this info to the employer because they will intercept it and never pass it on to the employee meaning they will never know unless they get sick and retire and wonder why their Pension check is so small.
Yup much more than the previous government. Remember the situation at Riddles Bay? The poor guest worker was victimzed by his employer when order to work outside of his remitt. Then when Immigration show up, they deport the worker, with no penalty imposed on the employer. No BIU march, no Govt condemnation. BIU Hotel and Construction divisions are both toothless dogs, no bark no bite…..Ottie the house you built is left desolate!
@ Seriously
If no-one made an official complaint during the previous Govn’t reign is that the fault of the PLP. Do you not think for 1 second that Col. Burch would have showed up himself, since ALL you OBA’s claim he was 100% for Bermudians.
Your comment is so foolish.
NO,he would have been far too busy smoking!
Col. Burch does not smoke. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! And if he does, it’s none of your business.
oh yes he does!
Who?
People who smoke are weak.
@ Stop Complaining
What a load of rubbish; the former (PLP) government issued more work permits than any other government in Bermuda’s history.
Yet they said they were for Bermudians. Which is it?
They meant Bermudians who are friends & family not all Bermudians. You must read between the lines when it comes to politicians words.
That friends and family thing is lame….in a country this smal there are about TWO degrees of separation. Any conversation I’ve ever had here in Bermuda where I didn’t know the principle person ended with a connection to a person I DID know in quick order. I may not know you Tommy Chong but I bet I know someone who does.
Ah. Great excuse for PLP corruption. Here “everyone knows everyone” so no problem, I can approve your planning application.
@ Eastern your comment should include “MORE BLUE COLOUR WORK PERMITS”…..its funny how the unemployed lunatics marched on parliment demanding restoration of a policy that eventually led to their unemployed status. Burt construction had lots of Jcains , Island Construction has lots Azorian, and the hotels had everbody and anybody they wanted….no unskilled labor entry level jobs availible for our kids.
Why is it always about the Jamaicans & Azoreans? They are not the nationalities at present or even 10 years ago who hold the majority of the unskilled worker permits. Maybe in the 1930s to 1980s this would have been true but not during plps run. Besides it takes more skill to know how to do horticulturist type work or masonry than it does to drive a van, make lattes, toss salads, retail sales, clean offices, show people to their seat, serve food & many other jobs this new influx of permit holders do. Even the Azorean men’s wives (ONCE THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR WIVES) did a better job at caregiving than these new permit holders. STOP KNOCKING THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN TO THIS ISLAND FOR ALMOST A CENTURY!!!! You should be looking at the newcomers that WE DON”T REALLY NEED. Those who’s government promotes the export of MILLIONS of their workers yearly just so they can send MILLIONS back to their country of other nation’s economy. Just find out who the majority of population of foreign workers that brought Cyprus to it’s demise are & I guarantee it won’t be Jamaicans or Azoreans.
OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS WERE MADE!!!! Remember the hotline & the complaint form on the government site? They were used but someone on the other side must have thought it was not part of their job description to follow up.
@ Tommy Chong stop being a dumb fool man! The people just arrived to Bermuda to help make the hotel look better for the tourist…….stop coming on here like you know everything retard!
My comment was not about the Grotto Bay situation you proctologist dream. This is still under investigation so how can anyone comment on whether Grotto Bay employment is guilty or not. My comment is about the shoddiness of immigration under the previous government despite that the plp set up a hotline & other means for reporting abuse of immigration laws.
As for your comment about helping make the hotel look better for the tourist. This gets no love with me since Bermuda has over 20 interior design companies that could have been contacted & contracted. If you would like I can post the contact information for your boss if they can’t figure out how to use the phone book themselves. Your ignoramus comment holds no water because there is no reason why a local company wouldn’t be able to do the job. Unless you want to tell me they had some SUPER DUPER SPECIAL EQUIPMENT the local companies don’t have. If so I’ve got some paddle boats with a screened hatch at the bottom for looking at the pretty fish. The screened hatched paddle boats go for real cheap if Grotto Bay is interested.
Everyone knows that gay Canadians give the best interior design advice. They’ll help with your wardrobe too.
EAZY NOW!!! You might get listed on Michael Hanson’s bad books for that comment.
If that is the only reason they might as well have hired Sybil. He’s multitalented & could drive the tourist around on the bus & entertain them in the evenings with a drag show as well as make Grotto Bay’s rooms look pretty. Didn’t OBA say they wanted to promote local talent in the hotels?
Col who?
Does poll smoking count?
LOL
a man that has no use for razors has been running his chops and as usual with plp members,twisted the truth!
PATHETIC!
Everyone must know that work permits are given to some people to do a specific job, and when they get here, they do a completely different job. The hospitality/catering business is rife.
should also add, that for these people, shift times are changed on a whim, as are days off. Immigration must know who the dodgy employers are. Again, it’s not rocket science.
Changing a day off is not against an immigration rule.
It’s all about cheap labour—-most of employers are still trying to get somebody to work for $ 5 an hour .
So true Xman…
The only way we can combat them that are illegaly hiring is to place an extremely heavy fine upon them when caught exploiting or hiring foreigners.
Far too many are doing jobs that any Bermudian can do,(if willing) but unfortunately,many aren’t reliable week to week, and this is a
“catch 22″ for any employer…
Most employers!? Really? In what country?
I hope immigration investigates why 10+ years ago they bought in a European as a general manager to train a Bermudian to take the position, yet him and his family are still here while the bermudian just excepts being his assistance. I hope they also investigate why you have a front desk manager there for years while there is a bermudian with a masters degree in hospitality working at front desk. Grotto Bay has been getting away with so much since I worked there many years ago!!!!!! I’m sure it’s not the only hotel but I really hope immigration finally stops it. These people are starting to take advantage of the system that was meant for Bermudians, and they blatantly have no respect for the laws of our land and our people.
Firstly, the European GM that they brought in 10+ years ago is mainly the reason Grotto Bay still exists and why you had a job making money. Can I ask if you left voluntarily or were fired? Rhetorical question by the way. Grotto Bay is the only LOCALLY OWNED hotel in Bermuda. Therefore the profits GB make line the pockets of my fellow Bermudians. I would also like for you to confirm who at the Front Desk has a Masters degree in Hospitality, nobody that I am aware of. And yes I do work at Grotto Bay and I absolutely LOVE IT here. The majority of workers are friendly, caring and some I consider family. There are a handful of sour apples that will eventually bury their own grave.
Grotto Bay goes by the book and conducts business to the highest of standards with one goal in mind: TO GET PEOPLE IN THESE ROOMS TO GIVE THESE BERMUDIANS A JOB. You think GB wants to spend thousands of dollars and go through the hassle of hiring foreigners? Absolutely not. Fairness and equality are spread across the board and any amployee who disagress is because they make it unfair for themselves. Nothing illegal has been done and no one is working here illegally. Some want to point fingers, but fail to realize their own hands are dirty!
It personally bothers me when people are so quick to assume and form conclusions that couldn’t be any further from the truth.
I love my place of employment, and anyone who is employed here or anywhere else for that matter, and is not happy, then why stay? We only have one life, go and enjoy it, do something you enjoy doing.
#TEAMGROTTOBAY !!!!!
Last I checked the Hamilton Princess is locally owned too…
So is the Reefs…
The reefs is locally owned as well, it actually at one time was the only hotel with an all Bermudian wait staff up until the mid 2000′s.
Sounds like your one of the elite crewmembers…#TEAMGROTTOBAY? Don’t make me laugh. How long have you worked there under 5 years?! And that was a rhetorical question so you don’t have to answer although we know the answer. Why is it that so many other people who’ve worked their much longer have a different song to sing? The case is still under investigation yet you’re on the defensive side so what does that say? To correct you the STAFF make Grottobay what it is along with the GM and everyone else. Isn’t this what is in question job security for the STAFF? So how is this investigation in any way harmful this is what we need from our government? It sounds to me your trying to do damage control while claiming there isn’t any damage being done… things that make you go hmmm.
Well then clearly the people who have worked here longer and have a different song to sing should be working somewhere else! They are singing a different song because things are not going THEIR way. Nobody is on the defensive side. I was simply trying to shine Grotto Bay in a brighter light since it seems no one wishes to congratulate on our success. But a complaint from a sour staff member (a complaint that has no merit) seems to get the most attention. What about the fact that in the last few years Grotto Bay has been the second best performing hotel on the island? Or how our room occupancy was 20% higher than the island occupancy overall? And I didnt say the GM is “the only” reason, I sad he is a “main” reason. So make sure you read the sentence correctly next time. Yes the staff is also another “main” reason we are so succesful. The majority of the staff are excellent. We get repeat guests that return and ask for specific staff members who have made their stay enjoyable in the past.
And that is exactly my point, there is no need to question the job security of our staff.
I never said the investigation was harmful, my point is that the complaint is coming from a person who has ill intentions and is attempting to drag everyone else down. If something was being done wrong or illegally then by all means, I agree an investigation should be conducted.
@LOL….what do Grotto, Reefs, Mid Ocean all have in common? All mates with OBA….bet nothing will come of any investigations at these places!!
Here we go agian…do we have to say that #TEAMGROTTOBAY crew are non qualified members. First sure you must be holding a job, where you seems to know about other peoples educational qualifications.What type of educational qualification do you have.I think your Front office Manager also not qualified and will not get a job anywhere.I hear the Asst Front Ofiice Manager is more qualified than her.Please speak the truth.Are you the Judas.We as Bermudians want all to voice out our feelings.Don’betray our country and people.Why can’t your Bermudian manager study and make an effort to be the GM.
Okay and what do you mean by “non qualified members” ? Because that whole sentence is just gramatically appalling.
“you must be holding a job, where you seems to know about other peoples educational qualifications.” Er, wrong, try again. Your parrallels are most incorrect. I know them personally and they have told me their qualifications!
There you go again “I think your Front office Manager also not qualified and will not get a job anywhere.” …well stop thinking, you seem to be doing more damage. Another sentence that is gramatically painful to read. Because your “thoughts” are one step away from a bottomless pitt. Pointless. Oh and clearly her qualifications have GOT her a job. She doesn’t need to ‘get’one.
You say you hear the assistant is more qualified, er, wrong again. Stop believing everything you hear.
You contradict yourself, you ask me to speak the truth (which I am) then you make reference to me being Judas? Judas is often associated with betrayal not the truth. Make up your mind.
How am I betraying my country and people? I am standing up for what is right.
You break the law you pay
Wow reading some of these comments would put an outside investor off the Bermuda hotel business in a New York minute.
Ok so if you are an employee of Grottobay and your so gung-ho to comment on every negative thing someone writes about your precious work place…let me ask you this are you working? If you are then someone else should be doing your job since you seem to be online all day. I’m sure one of the many unemployed qualified Bermudians would be glad to. Honestly you really look silly and how do you know if this person has the proper qualifications what position do you hold? Or is it word of mouth, if my memory serves me correct I believe this case was brought up in the term limits discussion and it must hold some truth to it. Let immigration do its job and do yours and get back to work!
Nope actually im off today.
I look silly? Not really, atleast I am speaking facts. Your whole comment is assumptions.
“I believe this case was brought up in the term limits discussion..” Nope, two independent situations actually. Try again.
Grotto Bay 2 – LOL 0
Unwanted…..
You’re a disgrace to your hotel. And I highly doubt that you’re off you’re probably sitting right at your desk or wondering around with your nose in your phone. I was referring to the comment about the assistant front office manager you retard. That was definitely in the Royal Gazette newspaper quoted word for word. So you need to get your “facts straight” I’m sure this isn’t the last of the strain of comments this hotel has been getting a bad rep for a while. Furthermore the notion you made about their being a point system suggests you think this is a game. No this is people’s lives and jobs where talking about. And what do they call your hotel anyway just perks um…Gay Bay?
No you are a disgrace to this island with your small minded, ignorant comments. It is because of people who think like yourself why our country is in the turmoil it is in. You can’t even have a civil discussion without it turning personal. Your getting personal because your backed into a corner with no REAL facts and you have no where else to go. Do your research. You can’t even keep up with your own comments, because you state one thing and then go back like you meant something else. English class would have taught you how to write an effective paragraph. And if GB has been getting such a bad rep, how come we are still lining our pockets? Furthermore the points system was to remind you that you still have yet to back up ANYTHING you are saying. Because if this really was a game, you would be losing.
Pah, just goes to show how much you know. “This is peoples lives and jobs where talking about.” First the correct word is “we’re” not “where” and second no one’s life or job is in jeopardy. We can be called Gay Bay, that is no problem, the money is still lining our pockets and we happily support the gay community. The gay community can fill our jobs and fill our rooms all they like, equality for all. We may be called Gay Bay, at least our hotel is in your mouth! Thanks for the publicity. Keep talking about us.
@LOL YOU DO U BOTHER TO COMMENT??!! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT OR EVEN TRYING TO SAY.. HAVE U WORKED AT GROTTO BAY?? SEE THATS THE PROBLEM UNEDUCATED FOOLS GO ON BERNEWS NOT REALIZING HOW MUCH OF FOOLS THEY WILL LOOK LIKE.. IF YOU HAVE EVEN BEEN AT GROTTO BAY?! I SUGGEST YOU DONT CAUSE HERE YOU ARE BASHING THIS RESORT THAT YES IT DID WIN 2ND BEST & YES THEIR STAFF IS DEFINITELY MAKE THE RESORT AND THATS EXACTLY WHY THE RESORT IS MORE BLESSED WITH GUEST ALWAYS IN BUSINESS.. YOU SITTING HERE BASHING THE FRONT DESK MANAGER SO MUCH MOUTH.. YOUR BERMUDIAN GO APPLY FOR IT!! LET SEE IF YOU WILL TAKE ALL THAT WEIGHT ON.. FUNNY HOW YOU JUST GONNA SIT HERE AND TALK. THE REASONS WHY IMMIGRATION IS AT GB IS BECAUSE AMONGST THEM THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THESE NEGATIVE PEOPLE TRYING TO BECOME BETTER BY BRINGING OTHERS DOWN MEANWHILE THEY HAVE NOT EVEN FINISHED THERE OWN EDUCATION. SAD SITUATION. IMMAGRATION IS NOW THERE AND WHO HAS TO GO WILL GO.. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO STAY WILL STAY. STOP COMING ON HERE ALL BOARD AND FOR THE RECORD THIS ARTICLE SAYS As the matter is still in its investigation stages, the Minister advised that it “would be premature to provide further comment on the specific incident.” SO NOTHING WAS SPECIFIED… CAN U READ?!!!!
@LOL I BET YOU GO AND SIT BY THE POOL HAVE A COCKTAIL POOR YOU!