The Department of Immigration needs to crack down and stick up for Bermudians when assessing applications for work permits, claimed Independent Senator Jeannette Cannonier yesterday.

During the motion to adjourn in the Upper House, Ms Cannonier said earlier in the day she stopped by an ice cream store on Front Street when she observed what appeared to be a non-Bermudian doing an unskilled job that she said could have been done by a local.

"One of the students coming out of CedarBridge could put hot dogs on a spit,"she said. "Some Bermudians are being robbed of the opportunity to earn money because of unscrupulous business owners applying for work permits for foreign workers."

She questioned whether the employee was employed as a chef and if he was, she said his permit was processed under the false pretences of his employer.

To Immigration officials, she said: "When seeing applications, in particular for chefs, are these skills really required at these establishments? Do a favour to our young Bermudians."

And while she said she recognised that sometimes Bermudians were their own worst enemies, she demanded that "someone take a long, hard look at this."

As she said she agreed with the principle that Bermudians should not be overlooked for employment opportunities, PLP Senator Victoria Pearman said before being quick to point a finger, the matter should be fully investigated.

"We can sometimes mistakenly assume that the person was brought in under false pretences, but he could have been a spouse of a Bermudian.

"If that person had been brought in as a chef, we have tools in Immigration to deal with it," she said as she put forth that Ms Cannonier report her concerns to the Immigration department."