A LAWYER with the Bank of Butterfield has been asked to leave the island after a run-in with Immigration officials at the airport.Sources say the problem began when the man — a black, British national — returned from a trip abroad without proper identification. He was taken into a private room where "a tense" conversation took place, and subsequently asked to plead his case to remain on the island or leave within two weeks. It is believed the attorney, who had lived here with his family for nearly seven years, decided to leave rather than beg for his job.The incident is the fourth in less than six months, where an expatriate has resigned having run afoul of the Government.Late last December, the Immigration Department revoked the work permit of Canadian construction worker Curtis Macleod, on the grounds that he had displayed disrespectful conduct to Government backbencher George Scott during a building site row. At about the same time, Australian chef Anthony Reynolds resigned from the Elbow Beach Hotel after allegedly making a joke about putting arsenic in Premier Ewart Brown's food which Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess described as "tantamount to threatening an act of terrorism, a criminal act of a most heinous nature".

And in February, Dr. Catherine Wakely was forced to resign after publicly questioning the controversial closure of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's Medical Clinic.

"What we're dealing with is a black nationalist Government with all the problems faced with a political system defined by race and nationalism," said a source privy to the most recent resignation. "The lawyer was a black guy who'd been working here for five to seven years at Butterfield Bank.

"He came back to the island without a re-entry permit. Immigration was upset because he'd apparently been in and out a number of times without the proper ID."He was taken into a back room where he said it was a bit tense, but it didn't get out of hand. It didn't get out of control but there was a disagreement. It was not a situation where they were swearing or threatening however the incident was reported higher up and he was told he had to go. "He received a letter saying that such and such happened and asked to please give a reason why he shouldn't leave. His argument was why should I have to appeal to Cabinet or the Minister or the Government?

Why is it a problem when I'm always in and out of the island?"

According to the source, the incident took place sometime last month. The letter stipulated that the attorney had two weeks to leave should he decide not to plead his case.

"He didn't want to be made a political football so he just left," the person stated. "It's sort of like what happened with Curtis Macleod and the chef — where the Government overreacted. It's an ego thing. The offence didn't justify the punishment. It was an overreaction which is typical of this Government.

"He was a good, solid citizen and the incident as he described it — and obviously he's a professional person — didn't justify the reaction. It didn't justify him being kicked out of the country."

A spokesperson yesterday confirmed "that that an expatriate employee of Butterfield Bank recently made a personal decision to leave Bermuda".

"Butterfield Bank cannot comment on personal decisions made by employees. We can, however, say that we believe the account of the alleged treatment is inaccurate.

"We enjoy a cooperative and productive relationship with the Department of Immigration and we look forward to continuing to work co-operatively with the department going forward."