COALITION’S RESPONSE TO THE HOUSE DEBATE ON LONG TERM RESIDENTS

It appears that members on both sides of the House have missed the point with respect to the disastrous policies directed toward 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.

·         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 of Long Term Resident’s Rights.

·         Government has refused to meet with representatives of the Long Term Residents.  As evidenced by the intimidation and abuse it allowed to be directed toward 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.

Long Term Residents of 20, 30, and 40 years want the rights outlined by most human rights documents.  Specifically,

·         Political representation provided by the right of  citizenship.

·         The right to own property in categories otherwise reserved for multi-millionaires

·         The freedom conduct business.

The Government’s position as stated in its Green Paper only perpetuates the failed policies of previous administrations.  Having admitted that they sympathise 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 conscious.

The only way that closure can be brought to the issue of Long Term Residents is for a one time amnesty grant of citizenship to all Long Term Residents of good standing once resident here for twenty years inclusive of 31st July 1989.