The Department of Immigration remains committed to a policy of fairness, according to Patricia Gordon-Pamplin.

The Minister of Home Affairs issued a statement tonight reiterating that while she could not comment on individual cases, each work permit application will be evaluated “without favouritism” and to the “highest standard of Bermuda’s laws”.

It comes as the row over Reverend Nicholas Tweed’s rejected work permit renewal intensified, with the Progressive Labour Party declaring its support for Mr Tweed earlier today.

“While due to issues of privacy we cannot comment on any individual applicant case, we want to ensure the Bermudian people that regardless of the economic, business or religious status of any non-Bermudian applying for employment, each application for a work permit submitted to the Department of Immigration will be evaluated fairly and without favouritism to provide the highest level of assurance to the Bermudian public that the activities of this Department are always conducted in the best interests of Bermuda’s workers,” Ms Gordon-Pamplin said.

She added that the Department’s policy ensures the review, evaluation and disposition of each application for a work permit is done in accordance with and in adherence to the highest standards of Bermuda’s laws.

“It is a policy that guarantees Bermudians are always given priority with respect to any opportunity to fill a position for which they are eminently qualified,” Ms Gordon-Pamplin said.

“Regardless of the economic, social, or religious status of any non-Bermudian seeking employment in our country, we remain steadfast in adhering to the guiding principles and established rules of our Department in guaranteeing that consistency is applied with respect to each and every law that protects the rights of Bermuda’s workers in securing any employment opportunity in which they are qualified. That is our number one priority.

“It should be noted that comprehensive changes were made to policy in 2014, and these new changes, which supersede previous policies, are the ones under which the Department operates. This policy requires for a position for a work permit to be advertised, or if a waiver from advertising is sought, the waiver fee is remitted and an application made for the dispensation.

“Since we understand the need to allow non-Bermudians seeking employment on our Island to have their voices heard, our door will always be open to hear their cases and objectively evaluate their individual requests.

“However, we hopefully respect that they also acknowledge that we will do so with the understanding that our guiding principle will remain steadfast in ensuring that every qualified Bermudian is given priority for each employment opportunity in accordance with existing laws and policies.”