A Canadian construction worker being kicked off the Island for showing disrespect to a Government MP had been the subject of many complaints, Bermudian Industrial Union officials claimed yesterday.

Global Construction site manager Curtis Macleod was involved in a row with Warwick North Central MP George Scott on a Hamilton building site.

Mr. Scott, who is also the chief organiser for the BIU, said he had received many complaints about the Canadian’s behaviour and went to investigate with Louis Somner, the BIU construction division’s president, to the Church Street building site on October 26.

It is alleged words such as “racist”, “ignorant” and “uneducated” were used and Mr. Scott’s children also insulted by Mr. Macleod, who denies saying anything about the children.

Mr. Macleod, who is black, admitted “loosing his cool” and shouting at the MP after asking him to leave the property three time.

He alleged he did not know who he was speaking to and was reacting to racial comments Mr. Scott made. The MP denied making any racial comments.

Last week Mr. Scott said the disrespect shown to him was appalling and that he attempted to give Mr. Macleod his business card so the foreigner could realise who he was speaking to.

At the time, he said: “I said ‘let me give you my business card so you can see who you are talking to’ but he crossed his arms and did not want to hear anything.

“After he said what he did about my children I said ‘you do not know who I am, but I will see you off this Island’.

“I am a member of Government. Nowhere else in the world would he be able to get up in the face of an MP. If I was another staff member of his he could have got away with it.

“It will be an example to anyone who is a guest worker in this country that they better respect what is here, the people and the Government.”

Yesterday, Chris Furbert, BIU president, Mr. Scott and Mr. Somner said it was important that guest workers realise they cannot intimidate locals and treat them with disrespect.

They said the union has the right to visit sites and speak to people who make complaints.

Mr. Somner said: “We have received complaints about Curtis since August. We had young men coming to us and telling us he was a tyrant. He was firing people all the time.

“One man he fired for not coiling fire hoses correctly. He showed the workers disrespect and they complained to us.

“These people will not get away with treating Bermudians badly. You cannot come to this country and disrespect the workers. We want to commend the Department of Immigration for investigating the matter.”

Mr. Scott also said that Mr. Macleod should have realised they were on official business because he was wearing a suit - not construction clothes and should have approached them professionally. Instead, he said, Mr. Macleod began yelling at them.

Responding to criticism from Shadow Minister of Immigration, Trevor Moniz - that the decision to revoke Mr. Macleod’s permit pointed to a “dictatorial temper” emerging in Bermuda - Mr. Somner said businesses and individuals that treat workers in a just manner have nothing to worry about.

He said: “The level of intimidation against Bermudian workers has been going on for years and we will not stand for it. We are here to protect their rights. These men complained of Mr. Macleod intimidating them and treating them wrong so we looked into it. “If a company is working within the perimeters of the law and treating workers in a just manner, they have no reason to fear anything, but if they are not, look out, we’re coming after them.”

However last night, a Bermudian who has worked with Mr. Macleod before, but does not work for Global Construction, said he found the accusations about Mr. Macleod’s behaviour unfair.

The man, who did not wish to be named in fear of reprisals, said: “I wouldn’t say his style is any more aggressive than Bermudians are used to.

“I think if you speak to anyone who has been successful in construction as a site manager they would say that being a tyrant or being accused of being a tyrant is just standard. It’s the nature of the job.”

“He is certainly the type of guy who could be a role model of Bermudians he didn’t have any magical experience or education he was just a guy who wanted to get the job done.

“He was a guy who was willing to help people and teach Bermudians what to do.

On Sunday, Minister of Immigration, Derrick Burgess accused The Royal Gazette of not serving the public’s interest and of spreading “misinformation”. He stated he followed all laws and procedures currently in place when he chose to revoke Mr. Macleod’s permit for “unsatisfactory character and conduct”.

However, the Ministry failed to respond to the initial four written requests on Thursday and Friday as well as phone calls to both the Permanent Secretary and Department of Communication’s representative for Immigration.

The requests asked the Minister to respond to Mr. Macleod’s claims. The Minister finally responded to the fifth written request, sent Sunday afternoon, at 9 p.m. and his statement was included in yesterday’s article regarding Mr. Macleod.

BIU: We have a dossier on Macleod