Introduction

We are here at this Bermuda conference at St Antony's College as people with an interest in Bermuda, and the future of Bermuda and the options for its future development and where we should now go from here.

In considering those issues of special relevance for the Ministry of Home Affairs, such as the Green Paper entitled "Bermuda's Long-term Residents : A Discussion Paper" and immigration policy issues, my topic focuses on the relevant public policy implications for Bermuda as it looks ahead to the future and plots its course. The issues which dominate relate to those pertaining to sustainable development and quality of life. This is particularly so given Bermuda's infrastructure and the physical constraints. Also there are very real political and social implications, as any decisions taken by the Government in its strategic national planning process cannot ignore the perspective of many Bermudians and their deeply held views that for too long their needs have been overlooked and ignored and that the time is long overdue for this to be redressed. So, the social contract that we have as a Government with the people of Bermuda will shape policy decisions, while there is the recognition that there are also sometimes competing commercial economic realities to take account of, if we truly want to be seen to do the public good.

Immigration Policy

Our role as Government in Bermuda at this juncture is a very serious one. We have embarked on a very personal and yet an objective undertaking. It is personal because the issues of immigration policy, including how we treat long-term residents is one which touches the hearts and souls of all of us - both Bermudian and long-term residents. It is objective because in reviewing our immigration policy and in revising our public policy one is mindful of a number of factors. These include the following:

(a) The availability of local labour who wish to work

(b) The capability and capacity of the education system to provide the required people to service the needs of the business community over the next 2-5 year period.

(c) The ability of the Island to attract labour from outside Bermuda to meet both current and anticipated requirements for local business environment international business, the hospitality industry and local businesses, generally

(d) The effect on growth, stability and the competitiveness of the Island if the Island is unable to continue to attract the right type of business or is unable to service its demands for labour locally or to attract foreign labour because of the perception that the policy-decisions made are not appropriate and due to perceived political

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