The Immigration hotline has gone decidedly cold with only four people calling it in the last three weeks of July.

It has also emerged that only two callers rang on its first day of operation, not 12 as previously claimed.

Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer said he had been puzzled over the claim made in the media that a dozen callers had rang on May 11.

Yet the department had made no effort to correct the story when it had originally appeared on the hotline's inaugural week.

And despite dwindling interest in the 24-hour answer machine service, which now records an average of less than one call a day, there are no plans to scrap it.

However United Bermuda Party MP Cole Simons said it was time to axe the service.

He said: "I think it should be scrapped because there is a procedure in place for people who feel there is an injustice -- they can call and get an appointment in the Immigration office.

He said the hotline gave the impression that Government were looking over people's shoulders.

"People can say something malicious against you -- there is a feeling that Big Brother is watching you.'' Mr. Simons said he was relieved the hotline had failed.

He said: "They've not thought it through. The people of Bermuda have made a statement here, that they will not be snitching up on people who are here to make the economy successful.'' Despite the dismal response figures for the hotline service it will be kept on for the time being.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said: "There is no intention to scrap it, because it's a test period.'' However she refused to be drawn on how long the service would be allowed to run or what would be an acceptable level of calls.

She admitted that figures had been low but she believed publicity surrounding the hotline had helped boost the number of inquiries the Immigration department was dealing with via other channels.

She said: "More and more people are talking to me and making appointments.'' But she added: "Clearly if there is no increase in calls, then it would be prudent to review. Maybe people prefer to talk to a real life person than an answering machine.'' Shadow Home Affairs spokesman Michael Dunkley said the hotline should be given a fair run, although he pointed out that his party never saw the need for it.'' He said: "If people have a complaint they can call the Immigration Department, the hotline isn't necessary. Under the UBP and hopefully the PLP any complaint will be looked at but it doesn't get carried forward unless there is any real merit to it.'' He said the UBP had made sure the department was run effectively, but the Progressive Labour Party were keen to persist with the hotline because they had trumpeted it in their manifesto.

He said: "The Immigration Department should have been more open about recording the results. But we've spent taxpayers' money on getting it going and advertising it so we should give it a chance.'' Cole Simons