Comments on: Minister: New Work Permit Policies On March 1st

By: no stamps

no stamps — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:02:29 +0000

All of this to come from a department that uses little yellow pieces of paper to register your valuable items …. right, dream on.

Google also makes driverless cars.

By: Naive Observer

Naive Observer — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:26:19 +0000

The endorsement can be electronic, pop up when you scan the passport. Zero pages required.

Sheesh, isn’t this stuff obvious? Every guest worker has to have a passport (Dr. Brown’s invited guests excepted) so tie it to that. If the worker renews the passport they pop down to the immigration office and get the electronic work permit endorsement transferred to their new passport. That would take oh, 30 seconds. Zero paper, plastic etc. and there you go. They could also link the work permit electronically to other documents such as a drivers license, so Immigration wanted to check the status of workers on a site they would have a variety of photo ID documents they could produce and check.

By: Naive Observer

Naive Observer — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:20:27 +0000

Unelected ministers like David Burch?

By: Ashamed...

Ashamed... — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:48:23 +0000

It is not the same. This is one is to replace the paper work permit currently stapled into a passport.

The PLP’s idea was to mandate that ex-pats carry these all the time in the event that Immigration came to a work site they can demand that individuals to show this ID. Even Col. Burch had to defend it by saying it is not a ‘gestapo tactic’ when he first introduced it.

And if they couldn’t produce the ID card, which was to include their employer, job and work permit parameters, they can be hauled away by Immigration officers right then and there.

That approach is eerily similar to the gold stars painted on Jews during the Nazi era. And as you can see from comments of pro-PLP supporters above they even go further with advocating that such identification actually tattooed onto the person!

Apples and oranges I am afraid. But I assume that won’t stop the silly comparisons and allegations. Carry on.

By: Infidelguy

Infidelguy — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:25:06 +0000

Wow!! ID cards? Really?

Wasn’t this same idea brought up during the PLP administration and labeled doctorial?

And all of you OBA cohorts are on board with this? Unbelievable!!

Just goes to show that it’s not what you say in this country but who is saying it?

By: Alvin Williams

Alvin Williams — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:17:12 +0000

I am waiting for the dead or alive wanted posters for all those foreign workers working in Bermuda illegally and since the private/public tourism authority is giving away interest free loans; I wonder if this government is going to give out awards if Bermudians turn in some of those illegal workers with a extra bonus if they don’t have their cards?

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:52:56 +0000

No, you’d need a return ticket from where you came, before they let you in if you say visit.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:51:05 +0000

Wow, what is with the Extremist right wing views.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:50:00 +0000

That is sick.

By: Ed Case

Ed Case — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:35:15 +0000

Truth Taller: How typical that when you have no argument to make – you make it about race.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:07:11 +0000

Why do you assume I’m white?????

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:06:07 +0000

He’s talking about it being easier to store and have at hand when travelling ! nowhere did he say that cards need to be carrier on your person at all times.

Talk about inventing things out of context.

when you have bag , travel docs, kids etc in tow, it is awkward to have this full sized piece of paper in your hand too…Also it’s paper so can get torn or damaged more easily, so the new card has better longevity.

If it were me, and I had a paper document I’d want this as a preference.

I have a passport that identifies me to immigration as Bermudian, but I don’t carry that on me at all times.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:59:31 +0000

When it is quotes in quotation marks that are identified as quotes from that person in the news story then YES I DO. Sometimes the context may be missing, but the quotes are the quotes.

By: serengetiperson

serengetiperson — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:15:10 +0000

Were you critical of the PLP’s unelected ministers?

By: serengetiperson

serengetiperson — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:09:41 +0000

It wasn’t the “very same idea” though, was it.

The PLP wanted expatriates to have to carry ID cards wherever they went. This is not the same at all.

By: no stamps

no stamps — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:53:20 +0000

Say a permit holder has renewed 3 times in a 10 year period, had countless promotions, and moved companies – those stamps will add up for a passport that is valid for 10 years (e.g. UK). Then let’s consider how long it will take immigration to find the latest version of the stamp to verify it is still valid…. and they’re so efficient as it stands.

Holder is registered as a Bermudian is a one-off stamp.

By: Truth Teller

Truth Teller — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:20:57 +0000

What a weak and dishonest argument on the part of “Hmmmm”…..consistent with his racist paranoid view of the world that he thinly disguises behind ‘colour blind racist” tropes>

I guess in his mind poor white Bermudians are the new victims of racism by black Bermudians and their party of choice the PLP.

If the PLP comes up with the same idea its the black Nazi’s at work.But if the OBA and Fahy -the great defender of privilege – come up with the same idea; it is simply wise and prudent.

A caring government at work.

How convenient.

By: Bermuda123

Bermuda123 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:13:13 +0000

This is purely to make the permits more durable when traveling (right now they are usually falling to bits as they are carried on and off island in passport wallets so frequently). In my opinion, we would not need them at all if we just made the records electronic; however if you are going to require a hard copy, then at least make it laminated and durable. Can we just focus on what is important here?

Well done with the business visitor line.

By: Impressive

Impressive — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:31:59 +0000

He is being sarcastic,,, the one who goes around calling people idiot.. He is only saying what the OBA said about the very same idea when it was brought up by the PLP in 2008..

By: Catherine Greet

Catherine Greet — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:02:13 +0000

Why can’t immigration put a stamp in the guest workers passport to indicate they are guest workers along with the dates of their permit??? A good old $10.00 rubber stamp! This would negate the need for any extra papers/cards and be much more cost effective for both Gubmt and the worker. Like a visa, and similar to the stamp that states “Holder is registered as a Bermudian” Don’t know why it’s such an issue…..isn’t that what passports are for….why make it any more complicated than that? Employers have already paid dearly for these permits and then another $145.00 bucks for a plastic card that could easily be lost seems excessive! For goodness sake, Immigration has a hard enough time keeping up with processing these permits as it is and this is just one more seemingly unnecessary bit of red tape!

By: pagetgirl

pagetgirl — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:33:47 +0000

They are NOT credit card size (obviously, that would make more sense and easy for guest workers!). They are slightly smaller than a passport page so won’t fit it a wallet. Also the cost is $145 per card? Who pays that, the employer or employee? we have 2 kids so the cost is $145 times 4?

By: SSWhite

SSWhite — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:10:54 +0000

good film abc most of the blind sheep on this island are not ready for the truth. that is good for people like you and me when the chips are down….

By: SSWhite

SSWhite — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:07:14 +0000

problem is creamy you refuse to look in the mirror – you are so blindly married to the oba and its ideals you cannot see that they are in essence flawed and biased to a segment of society just like the plp was. now that that segment is people that look like you, you can give their bs a free pass. i will say it again…any government is usually bad government especially ones with UNELECTED ministers….

By: SSWhite

SSWhite — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:03:01 +0000

i see your problem HMMM – you believe quotes on bernews to be fact…pathetic

By: chip

chip — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:49:39 +0000

O.b.a times running out? And all your incuse will fall America cup not going to save u! lot of angry people tax payers money

By: Barbie

Barbie — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 11:53:20 +0000

$145 for a card. that’s expensive. Does this mean all current work permit holders have to apply for a card?

By: Creamy

Creamy — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:29:37 +0000

Er, read the article, idiot. It’s a replacement forbthe current work permit. It is only needed when you enter Bermuda.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:27:08 +0000

Ok, let’s take an example.
Voting bribe gate? What the hell is that?
Details. I say you’re full of s***. As always, you kunta.

By: Creamy

Creamy — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:24:40 +0000

There are thousands of people who see through your drivel.

By: Read again

Read again — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:36:00 +0000

Hey did you not read the minister’s statement?

“The Work Permit Card, which will be laminated, is bigger than a credit card, but slightly smaller than a passport page. It will allow the permits to be more durable

and the card can be easily stored on one’s person,

thus making it more accessible”

He even says store the card on you!!!

By: positivity

positivity — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 03:13:12 +0000

Thank you.

By: sobbing_sob

sobbing_sob — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 03:01:35 +0000

Such drivel being spouted on here. To clarify, work permits today are on a4 paper, very archaic. Proposal is to introduce a smaller, more convenient card for travel. Not the type of ID the blessed PLP proposed a few years ago, where it would have been mandatory for all permit holders to have on their person 24/7. Apples and oranges.

OBA: making everyone’s lives easier, one small step at a time.

P.S. shouldn’t ‘wanted persons’ read ‘unwanted person’s?

By: Impressive

Impressive — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 01:59:20 +0000

sattire,, lol,, do you have any grey poupon sir..

By: Impressive

Impressive — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 01:56:51 +0000

ohh i see,, learn something everyday..

By: Coffee

Coffee — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 01:37:00 +0000

What type of regime is the OBA instituting with this I.D. Card ? Is this the thin edge of the wedge in the misalignment of the basic human rights for our guest worker ? No other country in the world makes guest workers carry around identification cards .

By: Walks like a Duck

Walks like a Duck — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:37:03 +0000

Hi OBA Minister which one are you?

By: Question?

Question? — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:32:51 +0000

So why is the line taking so long? When I flew in the customs officer was just staring at the screen in limbo. I travel every two weeks for business and I’m thinking don’t you have my information already.

By: Y-Gurl

Y-Gurl — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:59:26 +0000

Sounds like a civil servants attitude needs adjusting!

By: Mockingjay

Mockingjay — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:55:56 +0000

Nah, tattoo is fool proof.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:43:02 +0000

may be the cards can have a chip in them so we know where they are

By: hmmm

hmmm — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:35:40 +0000

So did you?

By: hmmm

hmmm — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:33:20 +0000

No, they are a little bigger than a credit card it apparently. I think any individual that has a document that allows them to enter a country wouldn’t carry it around, but put it in a very safe place until needed, probably with their passport.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:31:00 +0000

The facts are the facts. You only have to go read the quotes of the day to see that.

By: Joe Public

Joe Public — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:25:41 +0000

Business visitor line lol when I came back the other day it was 5 officers working so I stood in the visitor line and got out faster. I ask the officer why was the line for people living in Bermuda moving so slow she pointed at the premier’s photo in back of her and said ask him.

By: ABC

ABC — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:19:59 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X36aD3UbIPI

Anonymous Official Movie 2015 – How to Kill the Illuminati/New World Order. (2015 US Edition) true facts and its in bermuda to

By: More Politricks

More Politricks — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:13:49 +0000

The cards are the size of credit cards RIGHT? So why wouldn’t they have them on their person all the time like a credit card! What’s crazy is when the PLP wanted to do this the OBA government of the day said it was a crazy idea. More Politricks from the OBA Circus

By: Mockingjay

Mockingjay — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:57:38 +0000

@ Ian its called the two Bermuda’s Syndrome.
Just like they are quiet on Jet Gate, Casino Gate, Referendum Gate, G.P. license plate Gate, Secret Taping Gate, Voting Bribe Gate, Suspended Contracts Gate(Harbor Front, still have not heard the outcome of that case), Tuckers Town Gate, B.T.A. Gate( the CEO making over $7,000 a week and the Reefs owner and his associates of Nine Beaches owing Govt., and the PROMISE of 2000 jobs, which ironically he just fired 8 workers to hire Friends and Family, Phewww just to name a FEW.

By: Mockingjay

Mockingjay — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:22:07 +0000

Tattoo it.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:42:50 +0000

Im so sure hmmm. Interesting how that sort of patient, “objective” reasoning only applies one way isnt it?? I would think you would be old/experienced enough to know that youre just as subject to the same age old flaws (like bias) as most others who think they are intelligent to be immune to it.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:30:50 +0000

It all comes down to what you put on the immigration landing form.

Hell. I have been working here for years and saying ‘visit’.

Who is following me.

I need a rum.