A Jamaican man who overstayed his welcome in Bermuda is to be deported within seven days.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Gordon this week told Magistrates' Court that Barbara Burt complained to Police that a Jamaican man was living in a tent at Kindley Field Road, St. George's. Police went to that location and nabbed the illegal immigrant.

The court heard that Roy Walker, a farmer from Kingston, had entered Bermuda via London on December 12, 1998. He subsequently applied to Immigration authorities for an extension of his stay which expired on February 11, 1999.

Magistrate Edward King asked if Walker had a return ticket to his homeland.

"This is my tax dollars and yours,'' Mr. King told a packed courtroom.

"I do not plan to remand you in Westgate for any month either, that is more of my tax money,'' Mr. King told Walker, from Kingston, Jamaica.

Ms Gordon told the court the man had no visa for travel to the United States and may have to return to Jamaica through London.

An unidentified woman in court offered to purchase a ticket for the man, but declined when she heard he may have to foot the bill for the return trip via London.

In making the order for deportation, Mr. King said: "We want you out quick, within the next seven days (you will be) out of here.

"You cannot spend my tax money like that.''