A BERMUDA businessman yesterday had a work permit application turned down by the Department of Immigration within hours of a Mid-Ocean News reporter's queries to the Minister regarding its three-month hold-up.

Disc jockey Paul Sofianos applied last April to bring in a Canadian after numerous attempts over a two-year period to find someone locally proved unsuccessful. Frustrated with the delay, the cost to his business and "poor treatment and misinformation" received from Immigration staff, he contacted the Mid-Ocean News with his story - only to have his application denied later the same day.

"Twenty four hours ago, I was told my application was still at the office of (Labour & Home Affairs) Minister, Terry Lister," said Mr. Sofianos. "Since your newspaper called the Minister on Thursday morning, I've been told that my application was denied on the grounds that I could find somebody locally. I've been trying for two years to find somebody. Anybody good usually works on a full-time basis, they've been hired." When contacted by the Mid-Ocean News early yesterday morning, Mr. Lister said that Mr. Sofianos' application had already been dealt with.

"That case was dealt with last week," said Mr. Lister. "His whole story is full of lies. His application has been processed and he is free to contact us with any queries he might have. In fact, you can start your story by saying this whole story is full of lies."

When asked if Mr. Sofianos' work permit application was before him, Mr. Lister gave the following response:

"The only work permits that come before me are those that should probably have been turned down. Under pressure (by Mr. Sofianos) Immigration staff probably said they had given it to me to look at and were waiting for a response. (His story) is full of lies. His case has been dealt with."

Mr. Sofianos, a full-time employee at Gosling Brothers Limited, began working as a disc jockey in his spare time eight years ago. He began looking for someone to assist him after demands for his services grew.

"I work six nights a week, and with my day job, that's 75 or 80 hours a week," he said. "I'm at the limit as far as the amount of work I can do. Last year I did 48 weddings. Most other DJs I speak with do 25 or 30 a year. I just don't have the manpower to fill the positions. I have tried hiring. I've advertised twice in the newspaper for a DJ. I hired one Bermudian guy and he showed up the first night and didn't the second. He didn't call to say he wasn't coming, he just didn't show up and didn't give me any notice. Another guy I was going to hire, but when I asked him to work one night at the Frog & Onion, he said he didn't want to work in Dockyard. What am I supposed to do? They're not making it easy for me.

"Whenever I talk with people at the Department of Immigration, they make it sound as if there's hundreds of people who are DJs who want to play. And the DJs who have expressed an interest in playing or working with me or for me just don't play a wide enough selection of music. And that's what people expect from me - a wide selection of music. It's how I've gotten my clients and what I've built my reputation on."

Earlier this week, Mr. Sofianos explained how he had found a qualified disc jockey willing to work here from May through November but was waiting to hear whether the work permit had been approved or denied.

"They told me three weeks ago that the (Department's work) had been done, but that it had to go before the Minister for final approval. I asked how long that would take and they said it usually takes about a week and, at the very most, ten working days. It's now been three weeks. I still haven't heard anything.

"Even if they phoned me back and said, 'Look, you can't get it. We don't think there's any reason to bring this guy in. We're not going to give him a work permit.' At least then I would know to try and do something else. I called (the Department Wednesday) morning and was told there was nothing else anybody there could do until the Minister saw the application and approved it."

Mr. Sofianos said he pointed out that Mr. Lister had had the application before him for three weeks; that surely he must process them on a first-come, first-served basis.

"She said, 'Well, you're not the only person who's got a work permit out there.' Since my (paperwork) has been there for three weeks, I would assume it must be relatively close to the top of the pile by now," he said. "There is one helpful person at the Department of Immigration, but most of them, whenever I call, they're sort of off-putting.

"It's almost as if they're doing me a favour by talking to me. I'm always polite when I speak with them, I always try to state the facts and explain what I want to do and it just doesn't really make a difference.

"They told me I needed a certified copy of his passport or birth certificate. I called them back to let them know it was on the way and that's when I was told that if he'd been to Bermuda before, they already had his information on record. That there was no real need to do that.

"Of course, when I went in to give my final pieces of information I was told that was incorrect, that they needed it after all.

"As a small businessman I can't really afford to upset potential clients by saying I might be able to fulfill a contract but I have to wait (to hear about the work permit) and I can't take on any more work until I have someone else. It's so depressing. I began as a disc jockey because I enjoyed it, because I liked music and I liked playing.

"I do eight or nine freebies throughout the year for different charities, different fund-raisers and stuff like that. I do it because I enjoy it and now, there's so much hassle, it's becoming like a second job."

Mr. Lister did not return a second call regarding the work permit's refusal.