A personality clash between top immigration staff is at the root of work permit delays according to one Immigration Board source.

He said: "Forms are piling up in boxes not being looked at because of the friction that exists between the two executives, (Assistant Chief Immigration Officer) Dr. Rosie Azhar and (Chief Immigration Officer) Dr. Martin Brewer.

"They don't have a good working relationship with the girls there who are undervalued and de-motivated."

He said there are some incidences of forms in the department being dated from February. However the allegations were flatly denied by Dr. Brewer. Immigration Board chairman Reginald Burrows couldn't be reached for comment about delays but fellow board member Dale Butler MP said the blockage wasn't at his level.

He said the board was there to check rules weren't broken in applying for the work permit and he admitted it moved cautiously to see Bermudians weren't overlooked for posts.

He said: "It's not a perfect system, sometimes you are missing information. We meet on Monday for the fast track applications and on Wednesday for the regular ones.

"We start at 11.30 and sometimes don't leave until 2.30 or 3 p.m. The board works extremely hard."

Employers having a hard time were encouraged to come up with suggestions said Mr. Butler. He said there was room for more follow-up to ensure locals who had lost out could be helped to brush up on their skills to improve their job chances next time.