Immigration cheats will be hit hard under new laws planned by Government with increased fines and prison terms being announced in the Speech from the Throne yesterday.

People working without permits will be forced to refund their own repatriation costs and to hand over money they earned during their illegal stay.

Fines will also be increased for employers with illegal workers who will also have to pay court costs for immigration prosecutions.

And new laws to crack down on marriages of convenience are promised before the session ends in summer 2002.

Former Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said she had seen a sharp rise in marriage cheats, with drug dealers using wedlock to get a foothold on the Island.

Immigration has also dealt with cases of two self-declared homosexuals marrying non-Bermudians for immigration purposes while evidence has come to light of money changing hands in wedding pacts.

New Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister admitted forming legislation to annul sham marriages would be tricky but he said the key would be whether couples lived together.

He said there were a number of illegal immigrants and companies bringing them would bear the brunt of new heavier fines. Details of heavier fines would be worked out at a later date.

Opposition Home Affairs spokeswoman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said her party was keen to see immigration cheats stopped but she questioned how the new laws would work.

She said most illegal workers were in a low income bracket and it would be hard to recoup repatriation costs.

She also questioned the wisdom of upping jail terms when the Government was trying to reduce the prison population.

"Are we really looking to fill the prison with expatriates and increase the costs to the taxpayer?" she said.

But Mr. Lister said illegal employees would come up with the cash if they were jailed.

He said not jailing immigration cheats would send the wrong signal and encourage more to come, just as it would if foreign drug dealers were let off the hook.

He denied that taking a hardline on immigration would be the focus of his Ministry.

He said: "We want to have a fair and level playing field." Speeding up work permit processing would be a goal said Mr. Lister.

He said he was unhappy to hear that a high percentage of firms were finding processing too slow.

He said: "I will look into it. We'll do our best to see that companies have a service they are pleased with."

Companies would get quicker service if they submitted renewal applications at least ten weeks in advance said Mr. Lister who said it was unfair on employees to be kept in limbo while they waited to find out if they were staying or going.