An emergency meeting of the musicians’ union last night brought out roughly 100 entertainers to discuss action over unspecific infractions of immigration policy.

The Bermuda Federation of Musician and Variety Artists held a “great” meeting at the Leopards Club, according to union head Leroy Simmons, who told The Royal Gazette the group feels repeatedly snubbed by Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy.

“What we have seen over the past several months is that the Minister has circumvented policy,” Mr Simmons said.

“What the policy outlines is that when people bring in foreign entertainment, there is a requirement to secure local entertainment for the same venue.”

Mr Simmons said the union also wants to see customary immigration practices enshrined in law to protect local entertainers.

“As far as we’re concerned, for a few specific people on this Island, favours have been done,” he said. “I can also tell you that we feel there is a need to move from policy to legislation.”

Asked for specific instances that had come up at the standing room-only meeting, Mr Simmons said: “From our discussions tonight, we want to give a courtesy to the Minister — we will send our further correspondence to him before we expose that any further. We will try to give him an opportunity to respond.”

He added: “I will say that we have documentation that highlights this, and which has prompted this meeting tonight. We have decided to take specific action as we follow through on this meeting.

“If there is a policy in place, and that policy is being circumvented, then Bermudians are not working. This Government has campaigned on a mandate of jobs, jobs, jobs. The point is, it’s important that local entertainers are given their due right to work in their own country.”

The union requested a meeting with immigration officers “several months ago — which was denied”, he said.

“Since November, we have been trying to secure a meeting with the Minister, and we have been bypassed. That has not been acceptable to our board, to our membership, or to entertainers as a whole on the Island.

“Deeper than that, this union has felt very much disrespected — this has been overridden on several occasions without any discussion with this union.”

Under Government’s April 2013 Work Permit Policy, work permits for foreign entertainers to perform in clubs, pubs and specialised rooms in hotels may be granted, providing a number of conditions are met.

Section 6.7 of that document reads: “For each non-Bermudian group or individual employed, there will also be the requirement that a Bermudian group or individual (referred to hereafter as the?local group for ease of reference) is employed by the establishment concerned.

“The local group, the body recognised as representing Bermudian musicians and other entertainers, namely the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artists, and the employer should normally agree in advance the number of hours the Bermudians work. The hours worked by the non-Bermudian group should not exceed those allocated to the Bermudian entertainers.”

It adds: “If an employer is unable to find a qualified local group, evidence must be provided to the Department of Immigration demonstrating that Bermudians are not available.”

Mr Simmons said the union would “try the diplomatic process one more time” when it came to meeting directly with Senator Fahy.

Asked what pressure the entertainers’ union could bring to bear on Government, Mr Simmons replied: “We will have some further discussions with our executive board and other organisations we are connected with over the next few days.”

Their choice of action will rest on the decision of local entertainers, he said.

“We are not just fighting for them to work,” Mr Simmons said. “If there are issues where they are not doing what they’re supposed to do, we will address that as well.”