Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief has added his voice to concerns over the Uighurs' job controversy.

As reported last week, the four former Guantánamo Bay prisoners have been made redundant from their jobs as groundsmen at Port Royal Golf Course.

New employment has been found for them in the private sector thanks to the "diligent" efforts of Government, Premier Ewart Brown announced on Wednesday.

He and Labour and Immigration Minister David Burch failed to answer questions about the men's employment rights and whether they differ from those of other non-Bermudians.

Giving his views this weekend, Mr. Perinchief said: "People are questioning whether the jobs the Uighurs now have are jobs that were advertised and turned down by Bermudians or were beyond their competence.

"Further, whether what the Minster of Labour has facilitated is in keeping with or contrary to his policy and the law of giving jobs to qualified Bermudians over non-Bermudians."

Concern over the situation had already been expressed last week by the Opposition and by Edward Ball, general secretary of Bermuda Public Services Union.

Members of the public also spoke out over the men being found jobs when many Bermudians are currently unemployed.

Mr. Perinchief said: "The people of Bermuda ought to be privy to the contents, terms and conditions of any agreement between Premier Brown, the Bermuda Government and/or Minister Burch since they have to live with the consequences of such agreement.

"The Uighurs are being used as pawns and had the proper legal and constitutional process been used then we and the Uighurs would not find ourselves in the dilemma that we are.

"We should not attempt to put a 'national guilt trip' upon Bermudians by confusing what has been done with whether or not we are compassionate people.

"We are compassionate. But we also prefer to do things legally and constitutionally as well."