The Coalition for Long Term Residents empathises with the Anglican Bishop’s frustration that his comments regarding a rational discussion, characterised by openness and conciliation, has fallen on deaf political ears.  The Coalition at the outset of the Long Term Resident debate wrote Minister Cox requesting an opportunity to meet with her in order to assist in finding a solution to this complex issue.  That meeting was never granted although the Minister did acknowledge the Coalition’s letter well after the conclusion of the public meetings.

Although the Coalition was thrilled to hear of  Bishop Ratteray’s call for a compassionate and rational one-on-one discussion, we decided to sit in the wings to see how the Government would respond to what Bishop Ratteray had proposed.  Let me say that the Coalition agrees whole-heartedly with the Bishop’s recommendations.

We think it must be said that the Government’s lack of response to Bishop’s Ratteray belies the weakness of its position.  As a self-confessed expert in international law, the Minister knows that amongst those alienable rights to which she has referred is included the right to political representation.  Although the Coalition agrees that non-Bermudians should not be allowed “an unfettered right to come to Bermuda and to gain permanent residency”, the rights of those who have contributed to this island and resided here for the last 20, 30, and 40 years cannot morally or conscionably be denied.

The Government’s position hinges on the fear that by granting status to these individuals, a large number of new Bermudians would be created overnight putting pressure on an already straining infrastructure.  This is no argument as irrespective of whether these people are granted status they are already here, playing integral roles in the island’s infrastructure.  They live in houses, their children attend schools, and they use vehicles for transportation.

The Government also fears that by granting status “a whole new line of Bermudian descendants” would be created “who will perpetually be competing for the existing finite land.”  According to the data presented by the Government in its Green Paper, of those Long Term Resident’s  applying for Working Resident’s Certificates two years ago over 77% were over the age of 50 and unlikely to bear children.  In fact those Long Term Residents who have resided here more than 20 years, have already produced their children and their children are already entitled to Bermudian status!

We believe that the Government’s purpose in holding public meetings on this issue was in fact  to detract from logical arguments.  By failing to provide the public with concrete information, the Government produced a forum which descended into vitriol and acrimony.  In the instance of the first two meetings, the audience was stacked with BIU members who heckled those who differed from the Government’s position.  When criticised, the Union withdrew its members such that in the last two meetings the heckling was more subdued; and no longer having the audience so heavily stacked, the Minister stuffed the panels with individuals strongly supportive of the Government’s own position.  The Government’s intent was not to produce a democratic forum, otherwise its panels would have been more representative of the make-up of the community.

Members of the Coalition have been encouraged by the support expressed by both black and white members of the community.  Particularly gratifying has been Walton Brown’s poll showing that more than 50% of the community favour granting status to Long Term Residents.  We wish to thank Bishop Ratteray for bringing a moral conscience to this complex issue and for attempting to persuade the Government to hold rational and compassionate, one-on-one discussions.  Should such discussions take place, we would strongly propose that Bishop Ratteray be appointed mediator.