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	terms of a development model, the question might be asked: "Development for whom?" Well hopefully for all of us. The best maxim of any administration is still Thomas Jefferson's : "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none." Some have said that true patriotism is based on tolerance and a large measure of humility. The options set out in the Green Paper are talking points, a list of proposals which can be tailored and amended and which are subject to further amendments, whether by additions or deletions. They are not carved in granite as we move forward to the White Paper. At worst, they are discussion points for consideration. At best, they could be the keys to a brave new world in Bermuda and the keys to a newly defined and re-invigorated partnership between the Bermudians and those who may become in essence belongers of Bermuda. In the British Labour Government's White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity", the Foreign Office Secretary Robin Cook said, and I quote, "Soon after becoming the Foreign Secretary, I announced a thorough review of the relationships between Britain and what were then called the Dependent Territories. The review has been an acknowledgement of the importance which the Government places on that relationship and a sign of our determination to get it in the best possible shape for the future." What we are attempting as the Government is to get the balance right and the partnership right between Bermuda, Bermudians and the long-term residents. This is the plan of the Green Paper - we want to get it right. Get it right for Bermuda and Bermudians and get it right for those who have lived here for some time. We also want and need to get it right in terms of the immigration policy of the Government and for the people of Bermuda. A recognition of sustainable development issues requires one to be cognizant of issues relating to intergenerational fairness. In creating the right balance, it is critical to ensure that fair treatment is not delivered at the expense of competitiveness and employment. The Government's aim is to strike a balance which is mutually advantageous to employers and businesses. How do we bridge the gap? What are the new relationships that will make this possible? Jawaharial Nehru in his comments inaugurating the Asia conference in New Delhi in 1947 said: "standing on this watershed which divides two epochs of human history and endeavour we can look back on our long past and look forward to the future that is taking shape before our eyes." It is expected that, in the White Paper, the Government will provide the long-term residents with security in residence and employment short of Bermudian status. Bermudians accept this but also insist that large numbers of long-term residents should not be allowed to continue to build up. Pages 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 or Click here to Return Home
			This is contradictory to the Minister's previous proposal for a hierarchy of rights.

			This is the most shocking of the Minister's statements. What is the term "intergenerational fairness" but a fancy way of saying "tit-for-tat"? Long Term Residents should not be discriminated against because of perceived injustices committed by those with whom Long Term Residents have no relation. Furthermore, the Government shows no concern for intergenerational fairness when it comes to a history of discrimination in Bermuda's immigration policies directed specifically at the Portuguese. For instance, during the first half of the twentieth century, the Portuguese were excluded from bringing their families to Bermuda until they had worked on the island for seven years. No other ethnic or racial group was discriminated against in this manner. Later citizenship was withheld from the Portuguese through an English fluency requirement. The Government seems apply the concept of "intergeneration fairness" exclusively to its own black supporters and hardly subscribes to Thomas Jefferson's maxim of "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none."

			The issue for the Government is that they don't wish to grant political rights to those it believes will not support them in an election. The majority of Long Term Residents are white. The Government's core support is almost exclusively black. This a sad position for a labour Government to take when more than 50% of Long Term Residents are low level labourers. One can surmise that Government supports labour as long as they are black.