More than 100 entertainers crowding the auditorium of the Leopard’s Club for the Bermuda Entertainment Union’s (BEU) annual general meeting heard tonight there could be a protest march tomorrow.

If it were to go ahead, it would take place after a mass union meeting called on the issue of furlough days which is set for 10am at the Bermuda Industrial Union Headquarters.

The top issue on the agenda at the BEU meeting tonight was a change in immigration policies affecting the entertainment industry when amendments to the Hotel Concessions Act come into effect on March 1.

The changes will remove the need for the Department of Immigration to collect the ‘travellers fees’ due to the union before an overseas musician is granted a work permit, and the requirement to hire Bermudian entertainers whenever overseas entertainers perform. Overseas entertainers are to be treated as ‘seasonal workers’ and will be eligible for work permits of up to eight months.

Some BEU members undertook to join the march to protest the entertainment industry’s issues as well, with well-known local musician Shine Hayward canvassing for percussionists to take part. He said: “Potentially there will be a march tomorrow. I suggest to the powers that be that we lead the march,” and called for volunteers to join him.

Members voted on a slate of proposals put forward by union president Leroy Simmons, beginning with an overwhelming show of hands in agreement with the proposition that the policy due to be eradicated on March 1 stay in place. The entertainers also agreed that they should lobby for legislation that would give the retained policy teeth in protecting Bermudian entertainers.

The artists also supported the mounting of a petition, and investigating options in regards to legal action designed to keep the current policy in place.