without a visa despite the fact that he worked there for nearly 20 years and has children there.

He said he wanted to know why Bermuda was singled out and said he feared that, if something happened to family members there, he would be barred from entering the country at a moment's notice.

Pembroke man Jack Gauntlett said: "If anything happens to one of my daughters or my mother-in-law now I will be stopped and won't be able to get into the country. I think it's bizarre.

"My mother-in-law is 72. She's not critically ill, but she has all the things 72 year olds have.

"My Swedish wife is beside herself and angry with her own government. What the hell do they think they are doing?'' He said he planned to visit Sweden next month to pick up one of his teenage daughters, but after it was made clear last month that he needed a visa to get into the country, it was too late to get the visa so he cancelled the trip.

He said: "Now my daughter will come to us but she's only 17 and she's worried about coming through Gatwick when she doesn't speak any English.'' Mr. Gauntlett first found out about the loophole when he visited Sweden in February and immigration officials tried to bar his entry.

"I was made to wait like a common criminal,'' said Mr. Gauntlett, who was only allowed to enter after a two hour grilling when he pointed out his daughters were waiting for him.

Letters to immigration officials seemed to back his case that a visa was not necessary.

But it then emerged that Bermudians and other citizens from dependent territories needed visas because the law was changed in 1989 when Sweden feared it would be hit with an influx of immigrants from Hong Kong after the UK handed it back to China.

"People from Jamaica and Trinidad can just stroll into Sweden,'' fumed Mr.

Gauntlett.

"The Swedish consul here weren't aware of the situation so they didn't have the mechanics to get the visa.'' And Mr. Gauntlett claimed Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons was given a quickie visa whereas he was told such special treatment would not be available to him.

Swedish Consul Jens Juul refused to confirm whether Dr. Gibbons had benefited from special treatment but admitted a prominent business man had.

Dr. Gibbons said he had spoken to Mr. Juul before his last trip to Sweden and the Consul was helpful in advising him.

When he arrived in Stockholm, he continued, he was told he did not need a visa to get through Swedish immigration.

Mr. Juul added that he was caught out by the little-known loophole.

"I wasn't aware of the situation, I only took over a year ago.

"It's unfortunate. The rules changed in 1989. After that time Bermudians needed a visitor's visa to get into Sweden unless they were stamped with a right to abode in the UK.

"I have spoken to the consul general in New York and I have written a long letter to the Swedish foreign office asking them to review the situation.

"I can only hope. Obviously this is a ludicrous situation.''