June 1, 2001

This new website provides an ideal opportunity for long term residents to express their views on the subject of obtaining Bermuda status and being allowed to function in Bermuda on an equal basis after giving many years of service to the island. Since the discovery of Bermuda, people have come to the island under many different circumstances, but over several hundreds of years the reasons that they came have not basically changed in any way. They came because they were sent, they came because they were needed or in the past they simply arrived. It wasn't until 1956 that someone thought that perhaps there should be some control over who came, who was sent and who arrived. Undoubtedly there was a need for some regulatory control. From 1956 for approximately 30 years, a system existed that enabled new arrivals to Bermuda to make application for Bermuda status. This process was conjured up by individuals who had arrived in Bermuda or whose ancestors had arrived in Bermuda some years previously. It was nothing more than an exclusive club set up to control business interest. An application was made for Bermuda status and the applicant appeared before a group of individuals selected for the purpose of vetting applications. Some applicants were successful at the first attempt and others were rejected, going on to make second, third and even fourth applications. It is indeed interesting to note that a rejection for Bermuda status was never accompanied by a reason for rejection, it was simply no. Legislation was enacted whereby a decision against the grant of Bermuda status need not carry any reason whatsoever. There are many cases of individuals arriving in Bermuda after other individuals and who were granted status because they knew the right people in control. This process in itself was unacceptable to many, but the individuals in power relished the fact that they could control the lives of innocent people which in turn meant that they could also control their own private business interests. An application for Bermuda status was advertised in the local newspaper with the full name and address of the applicant, giving the public the opportunity not only to know that an application was being made, but giving them an opportunity to object to the application. Objections were made in writing to the Department of Immigration and reasons for objection varied from conflicts of business interest to simply not liking an applicant. Applicants for Bermuda status were never given the opportunity to defend allegations that were submitted under objection, in fact they never knew they existed. The fact of the matter is that many objections were submitted. After many years of controlling lives and personal business interests, it became apparent that this process of discretionary grant of Bermuda status should cease to exist. In other words no one could apply regardless of how many years they had spent in Bermuda. Under amendments to the Immigration Act the process was terminated without any notification to the long term resident. Many long term residents who had applied and been unsuccessful during the period of discretionary grant, or who had indeed never made application, were stranded in a country that had basically abandoned them with the stroke of a pen. Many of these long term residents had spent up to 30 years of their lives living, working and supporting Bermuda in many ways. Some of them, strange as it may sound, are registered to vote in Bermuda in general elections and referendums, yet they have been stranded in the middle of the Atlantic. Imagine a situation whereby individuals have the ability to control the outcome of an election without having the freedom to compete on the same basis as someone with status. This is hardly deemed to be a democratic process which Bermuda takes great pride in declaring that always exists on the island. There are many hidden agendas associated with the subject of Bermuda status and its grant, none more evident than simple selfishness and self centered business interest. Bermuda has a declining Bermuda population and an increasing non Bermudian population and it is time to correct the balance. It is time to set aside the sentiment associated with the future granting of Bermuda status and it is time to think about the opportunity for individuals that already exists for others who have pulled up the ladder.