foreigner on the Island, it has emerged.

The costly marriage of convenience was revealed yesterday by Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, who said it was an example of a growing problem in Bermuda.

But he admitted Government was almost powerless to prevent such marriages and could only act before the wedding -- if the non-Bermudian was breaking any immigration laws.

But that could only happen if Government knew a marriage of convenience was being arranged.

Yesterday Mr. Edness said: "There is little we can do to stop marriages of convenience, but I am talking to the Attorney General about this.

"We have to depend on the integrity and honesty of Bermudians not to do this sort of thing and sell their heritage in this particular fashion.'' Earlier this year The Royal Gazette highlighted the cases of two Bermudian women whose non-Bermudian husbands left them soon after the marriage but continued to work on the Island.

Immigration laws were amended in 1994 to give greater employment rights to foreign spouses.

But non-Bermudian men who marry Bermudian women have less protection in Bermuda than non-Bermudian women who marry Bermudian men.

The Bermuda Constitution Order says the wife of a Bermudian "is deemed to belong to Bermuda'' as long as she is not officially separated. It makes no such provision for a husband of a Bermudian.

Mr. Edness added: "There is a case now where money is being paid to a Bermudian male who has entered into an agreement to marry a person for the purpose of enabling that person to stay in Bermuda.

"But there is no intention of them living together as man and wife.'' The arrangement involves a $2,000 `down payment' with another $2,500 being paid after the marriage, he said.

There is no law preventing such marriages although Immigration officials can take action against an individual if they are breaking the law -- such as staying longer than their permitted time. But information needs to be passed to the Ministry before the wedding occurs.

The Minister can also prevent a person staying in Bermuda, whether they are married or not, but only under certain circumstances.

"In any case, a judgment has to be made and we have to have hard evidence that the person does not fit the criteria laid down under the policies, which is hard to prove,'' he added.

"The Home Affairs Ministry has noticed a growing problem with marriages of convenience, usually with a Bermudian man or woman entering into a (financial) arrangement.

Officials probe sham marriages further sum is paid following the marriage. There is no intention of the two living together and the sole purpose is so the non- Bermudian is able to stay in Bermuda.'' Mr. Edness added that sometimes members of the community were concerned enough about the practice to call the Immigration Department.

"In other cases we never hear about it until after the event and we get the end result where the two parties simply go their separate ways.

"What is so disappointing is that some Bermudians are prepared to sell their souls for a small piece of money.

"We would ask Bermudians to be more discerning, honest and have more integrity and not enter into arragements with people who have no real interest in Bermuda except the convenience of living and working here.''