Yesterday, it was revealed that UBP MP E.T. "Bob" Richards' company holds a $3 million contract to provide the technology that powers the new work permit card programme. It was also revealed that MP Richards himself stands to benefit personally from a system he now says "smacks very heavily of Nazi Germany."

MP Richards responded by saying that he was "not privy to the detailed specifications of the work BITS is involved with."

In response, PLP Spokesman Wentworth Christopher said, "MP Richards is the President of BITS. How could he not know the details of a $3 million contract that his company was administering? Something smells."

Mr. Christopher continued, "MP Richards claims that he's qualified to run our Finance Ministry, but, according to him, he doesn't even know what his own company is doing. Either MP Richards is not being honest with Bermudians about his knowledge of the programme, or, if he really didn't know what was happening under his own nose, it means he's a supremely incompetent manager who is not qualified to run Bermuda's Finance Ministry."

Mr. Christopher also criticised MP Richards for his inappropriate and improper Nazi comparison.

"How dare MP Richards compare a Green Card-like programme to Nazi Germany. That comparison is offensive and immoral. It has no place in our society and I call upon right minded people in the UBP to join me in calling for MP Richards' resignation.

"The Nazis perpeturated one of the most horrific genocides in human history. Those who were affected by the horrors of the Nazi regime are rightfully insulted to see a Green Card-like programme compared to a regime that committed one of the most horrific atrocities in the history of mankind.

"This comparison is repugnant to any right-thinking Bermudian and it smacks of deep hypocrisy. Bob Richards' company took $3 million and then he made horrible and offensive statements about a programme designed to protect guest workers from abuse and protect Bermudian jobs."

Mr. Christopher concluded, "Now that Kim Swan has made his position known, I want to know where the rest of the UBP stands. I challenge by-election candidate Charlie Swan to join me, do the right thing and call upon MP Richards to resign for his insulting and insensitive remarks and for his deep hypocrisy."