Open Consular Days Set To Be Held In The UK
Bermudians living, working and studying in the UK are welcome to Open Consular Days across the United Kingdom, hosted by the Government of Bermuda London Office, the Cabinet Office advised.
A Government spokesperson said, “The purpose of Open Consular Days is to provide Bermudians throughout the UK an opportunity to speak directly with the London Office officials regarding any issues or concerns with one-on-one personal consultation.
“The public are reminded that the London Office is available to provide Bermudians with the necessary advice and current information pertaining to living in the UK.”
Open Consular Days will be on held on the following dates and locations:
- Nottingham, Dec 2nd – ICC Centre, Notinghamshire YMCA, 61b Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FN
- Warrington, Dec 5th – The Gateway , 85 – 101 Sankey Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1SR
- Sheffield, Dec 7th – Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association [SADACCA], 48 The Wicker, S3 8JB
“On each date, Consular Days will be open between 11.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Those who are interested are welcome to contact the London Office on +44 [0] 20 7518 9900, or via email at londonoffice@gov.bm. Walk-ins are also welcomed.”
Dear London Office,
This press release is further evidence that your mission statement and purpose are not designed to serve Bermuda or its people, Bermudians.
The Govt spokesperson says:
“………The public are reminded that the London Office is available to provide Bermudians with the necessary advice and current information pertaining to living in the UK…….”
Seriously, ……….”advice and info pertaining to living in the UK…..”?
There appear to be 3 categories of Bermudians sleeping in the United Kingdom every night, notice I did not say “living in the UK”:
1) Students – undertaking their secondary, undergraduate and post-graduate courses and planning to return to Bermuda to work;
2) Qualified Professionals – unemployed Bermudians, or Bermudians who were under-employed in Bermuda and not given any/sufficient opportunity in Bermuda, in all sectors of the economy including International Business who all possess BSc, BA, MBA, MA, ACA, ACCA, LLB, CPCU, Dip CII and ACII etc qualifications and either 5, 10 or 15/20+ years progressive IB experience; and
3) Witnesses – those who were relocated due to their testimony during criminal proceedings in Bermuda.
Shouldn’t the purpose of the London Office and the Bermuda Government be to obtain detailed data and statistics on ALL the BERMUDIANS living in the UK?
Which “category” they fall into and obtain accurate data on their qualifications and appetite to come home to build their Island? SO that Government Policy and FDI can be established on a 3-5 year strategic timeline?
120% of those in Category 2 (i.e. Qualified Professionals) are wary of being told during London job interviews “You don’t have any London experience” after they already have all the qualifications/career experience and were doing the same role in Bermuda.
The anomaly is that contract workers coming into Bermuda do not need to have any “Bermuda experience” on their CVs when obtaining their first work permit, yet by their work permit renewal 3 years later their HR Manager drafts a job description listing all the “New Bermuda responsibilities/experience” that makes them a Key Worker, after 30 month in Bermuda.
This message goes out to the PLP and OBA as a request for you to address this in the pre-AC2017 calm before the storm.
What is the rotation of staff in the London Office?
We hope that young and upcoming Bermudian Civil Servants (or IB Professionals) who want to represent their Island would be given that opportunity through an open and transparent recruitment process every 3 years so that the staff in the London Office are at least rotated on a regular basis.
Why is there no London date for them to meet with Bermudians? They are never available in London at their Bermuda tax payer funded office, nor do they respond to anything. Yes we are frustrated at being ignored by the London Office.
These are important strategic issues that need to be discussed in Bermuda, as I am 300% CONFIDENT that the representatives of the London Office will continue to filter and be selective with the feedback they send back to Cabinet Office.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Desk Warmer
Doesn’t the Citizens Advice Bureau on every High Street already Advice people on every issue relating to living in the U.K.?
Isn’t the brief of London office to promote Bermuda in U.K. Our tourism and IB propositions?