Date: Fri 15-Sep-2000

Jeffers expresses concern over working resident certificates

By Henry Adderley News Editor

The former chairman of the National Liberal Party has voiced concerns raised

by a working resident's certificate holder over hiring priorities.

Charles Jeffers questioned whether or not Government might be using the

``proverbial sledgehammer to kill the proverbial fly'' as it moved to deal

with the thorny issue of long-term residents.

In a letter addressed to Labour Minister Paula Cox and forwarded to The Royal

Gazette , Charles Jeffers noted there was nothing in the discussion paper to

indicate there were any plans by Government to revoke any working resident

certificates and ask the holders to leave.

``I therefore feel that it is safe to assume that these residents will be

permitted to stay,'' said Mr. Jeffers.

He noted this provided a measure of security for those who had working

resident certificates, but added: ``However there is a concern expressed by a

working resident certificate holder about hiring priorities.

``There is no argument or disagreement about the hiring of Bermudians and

spouses of Bermudians in that order,'' he stressed.

He added: ``The concern of the working resident certificate holder is that

there does not appear to be any priority that is set to favour working

resident's certificate holders over regular work-permit holders.

``Surely a working resident certificate holder should expect to have priority

over a normal work permit holder. This policy would assist Government in its

quest to keep down the number of new work permit holder,'' said Mr. Jeffers.

He said he had looked at the analysis of data contained in the discussion

paper to see how many people were affected and how old they were.

About 1,400 people were eligible to apply for working resident certificates

but only 551 did so, he noted.

Mr. Jeffers said: ``We are left to speculate why others did not apply. I

believe that it is safe to reason that some are retired or very close to

retirement.''

Of the 551 working resident certificate applicants, he continued, 296 (53.72

percent) were between the ages of 50 and 59, 102 (18.51 percent) were between

the ages of 60 and 69 and 30 (5.44 percent) were 70 or older.

``Simply put, this means that 428 of the 551 applicants could be considered

past normal retirement age, near retirement age or at the top of their

careers,'' said Mr. Jeffers.

``This leaves 123 or 22.32 percent of applicants under the age of 50 with

approximately 15 years in the workforce, under what may be regarded as normal

circumstances.

``Madam Minister, considering the breakdown of the numbers as set out above,

are we spending an inordinate amount of time and money on an issue that, in

my opinion, is controllable and, with the proper safeguards in place, will not

be repeated? Are we using the proverbial sledgehammer to kill the proverbial

fly?''

Turning to the subject of Bermuda status, Mr. Jeffers noted that the discussion paper indicated Government's position was very limited.

``One of the options speaks of the possibility that a general offer may be made to long-term residents that includes security of rights to seek and hold employment and security of home ownership.

``Unfortunately, the suggested options on real estate purchases make the security of home ownership a viable choice for only those residents at the high end of the economic ladder,'' he noted.

The option raised a number of questions, continued Mr. Jeffers.

``Is it the position of the Government that long-term residents should be

content to live and work in Bermuda and own a home without the right to vote?''