First the PLP came for the expats. Next the bloggers?
An Egyptian court has sentenced an internet blogger to four years' prison for insulting Islam and the president.
It's not that far from being reality, with the PLP/BIU's blog police, Laverne "Nails" Furbert, threatening to report Phil Wells to the Minister of Immigration:
Firstly, although you are married to a Bermudian, you need to be reminded that permission for you to work in Bermuda is still at the behest of the Minister of Immigration and Labour (the Hon. Derrick Burgess, JP, MP). Please refer to the Immigration and Protection Act to confirm this.
We're on a very slippery slope. I like the suggestion in today's Letters to the Editor (brilliant satire alert for the humourly challenged):
Government announces "Know Who I Am" Campaign, The Premier, like all Bermudians, is concerned by the recent confrontation involving Canadian foreign worker Curtis Macleod and Member of Parliament George A. Scott.Of course, the most troubling aspect of this unfortunate incident is that Mr. Macleod was obviously unable to recognize MP Scott as the distinguished public figure that he is. No member of the ruling party in Bermuda should have to present a business card and repeated ask "do you know who I am". This is truly regrettable. As usual, Government has acted swiftly to address this issue. The Ministry of Labour and Immigration is proud to announce the launch of its "Know Who I Am" programme. Effective immediately, all foreign workers will receive, upon arrival in Bermuda, a pocket size guide to the luminaries who comprise Bermuda's ruling class.
The guide will include professional colour photographs as well as details of the MPs' children, spouses, former spouse(s), former spouse(s)' children, significant other(s), former significant other(s), former significant other(s)' children etc., to ensure that the appropriate degree of deference, obedience and reverence is demonstrated in all situations. As a related measure, work permit renewals (if any) will now include a short examination based on the guide. This examination will be administered in cooperation with the new Ministry of Expatriate Rehabilitation.