Date: Mon 20-Nov-2000

Most MPs `missed the point' -- Pires: Government has chance to correct`disastrous policies' By Karen Smith

Long term residents last night claimed that MPs on both sides of Parliament

had missed the point in their debate over the future of non-Bermudians on the Island.The Coalition for the Rights of Long Term Residents said the Government's proposal in its Green Paper on the issue only perpetuated the failed policies

of previous administrations. And they said that unless both the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party truly grasped the real issues over long term residents, the problem would never be solved.

Spokesman for the Portuguese community Robert Pires hit back yesterday after listening to the Green Paper debate in the House of Assembly on Friday.On behalf of the coalition, he said: ``It appears that members on both sides of the House have missed the point with respect to the disastrous policies directed towards Bermuda's long term residents.``This is not an issue about the economic benefits of bringing foreign workers to the Island.

Far greater economic benefits will accrue to this Island when we increase the pool of skilled personnel by training Bermudians to fill the jobs. ``This should be Government's first priority in putting Bermudians first.'' But he added: ``This is about correcting disastrous policies which go against international precedents and deny people the universally accepted inalienable right of political representation as outlined in all human rights documents. ``The proposed Permanent Residency Certificate outlined in Government's Green Paper on long term residents effectively renames the current Working Resident's Certificate and perpetuates the status quo. The PRC will not bring closure on the issue.''

He said Government had refused to meet with representatives of the long term residents, and he criticised the public meetings held by Government throughout the summer. ``As evidenced by the intimidation and abuse it allowed to be directed towards long term residents, Government did not create a forum of safety, tolerance and respect needed to bring the long term resident's point of view forward at the public forums. ``Having refused to meet with representatives of the long term residents,

Government should not, as was done in Friday's debate, purport to know what

long term residents want.'' The leader said all they were asking for was the rights outlined by most human rights documents, but specifically: Political representation provided by the right of citizenship; The right to own property in categories otherwise reserved for multi-millionaires; and The freedom to conduct business. Mr. Pires added: ``Having admitted that they sympathised with the plight of long term residents, it is now incumbent on Government to do the morally right thing and grant these people status.``This is not about what Governments of yesteryear did or did not do, but rather what today's PLP Government, having been handed the mantle of responsibility, does to resolve this mess in a manner which brings credit to Bermuda in the eyes of the international community, as well as in the minds of those with a moral conscience.

``The only way that closure can be brought to the issue of long term

residents is for a one time amnesty of citizenship to all long term residents of good standing once resident here for 20 years, inclusive of July 31, 1989.'' Opposition MP Trevor Moniz accused Government of ``taking a coward's way

out'' and said the Permanent Residency Certificate would create second class

citizens. He added: ``The PLP are really acting, in my view, in a pretty disappointing fashion.``They went out of their way to say how much they sympathised with the plight of long term residents, and now they are in a position to do something about it, but they won't because it does not fit in with their political agenda.'' Last night, Home Minister Paula Cox, who wrote the Green Paper, was not available for comment. However, she told the House of Assembly on Friday that she had listened to all parties and said the paper was not a take it or leave it document. She said she wanted to explore all possibilities. Opposition MP Michael Dunkley said be believed the long term residents should be given status.