13 July 2001
The Coalition is pleased to see that the Minister has made a serious effort to deal with the many complex and sensitive issues relating to Long Term Residents and that she has kept her promise to deal with this before the summer recess. We are particularly gratified that the numbers touted by Government at the long term resident forums have been substantially reduced from a fear-mongering 3500 to 5000 applicants for Bermuda status to a more realistic approximation of 1500. This is the number which the Coalition has always put forward as being more realistic.
However, we are deeply disappointed with the restrictive nature of categories for the granting of Bermuda status, particularly in the elector category which discriminates in favour of British/Commonwealth nationals and against the Portuguese, which make up the second largest category of long term residents in Bermuda, and other nationals.
In our view, this perpetuates an historic injustice against the Portuguese by successive Government administrations over the last hundred years. Specifically, for many years, Portuguese workers were restricted from bringing their wives and children to live with them until they had worked and resided on these islands for seven years. No other national group suffered this injustice and indignity. Once the Portuguese and their families were made resident they were restricted from voting by means of English fluency requirements. In the early 1990’s, scores of Portuguese long term resident families were dismissed from the island at the first sign of economic downturn, some of which had been resident for many years.
We further regret that the purchase of properties have been restricted to the top 20% of the housing market. We consider this to be elitist and not in keeping with a Government which purports to support those at the lower end of the economic spectrum.
Finally, the Government’s paper does not meet the Coalition’s objective of full human rights for long term residents. This can only be achieved through the granting of Bermuda status for those long term residents here on the 31st July 1989 upon reaching 20 years residence.