Two Hour Video: PLP Town Hall On Immigration
The Progressive Labour Party hosted a Town Hall meeting last night [June 26] at the Devonshire Recreation Club addressing the topic of immigration and Bermuda status.
The meeting follows a recent Court ruling which allowed for a pathway to status for Permanent Residence Certificate [PRC] holders.
The PLP has called for government to suspend applications for Bermuda status and work on comprehensive immigration reform, while Attorney General Trevor Moniz said that Government has filed an appeal against the Chief Justice’s judgment.
In a statement issued earlier this month, a Govt. spokesperson said since the judgment, the Immigration Department has been “inundated with applications for persons seeking status,” and 115 have already been naturalised with a further estimated 1,340 possibly eligible.
Moderated by Senator Marc Daniels, the panelists last night included Shadow Minister for Immigration & External Affairs Walton Brown, Shadow Attorney General Michael Scott, Shadow Minister for Human Affairs Rolfe Commissiong and youth activist Eron Hill.
Those in attendance included Opposition Leader Marc Bean, numerous PLP MPs and Senators, former Premier Paula Cox, former PLP MP Walter Lister, and many others.
Mr. Brown said the meeting was the start of a campaign aiming for a suspension of status grants and move to have a full review of immigration policy. “Talks need to lead to action,” added Mr. Brown.
Mr. Commissiong said, “I am sure that the thousands of largely white and Anglo PRC holders who have been here prior to 1989 must feel as if Jesus himself answered their prayers.”
“We believe the key to a sustainable Bermuda for white and black Bermudians, is a Bermuda which invests in its people, and does not treat them as surplus to requirements,” added Mr. Commissiong.
A “Fact Sheet” was handed out at the meeting, which said: “This is not a human rights issue as PRCs are not stateless & they maintain their citizenship in their homelands,” added that “protesting the granting of status of PRCs is not xenophobic.”
The sheet added that there are over 6,000 residents who would be directly impacted by granting PRC status: 1,878 PRC holders; 1,200 spouses of PRC holders, and 2,960 children of PRC holders.
It also said that the “granting of status for PRCs must be considered in the wider context” that includes the OBA introducing the notion of commercial immigration, the amendment to the Job Makers Act to make it easier for senior executives to be granted PRC status, the amendment to the Companies Act to allow foreign companies to purchase residential property and the removal of term limits.
2 hour video showing the entire meeting:
PRC holder Tiago Garcia addressed the room, saying he would like PRC holders to be seen as humans not statistics. Saying that the acronym “PRC” stands for “Permanently Restless Citizen” to him on some days, he added that most PRC holders really care about Bermuda and want to obtain a feeling of belonging.
Mr. Garcia — who has been here since he was 3 years old — was asked would he renounce his citizenship, and replied that Bermuda was “his community” and “if that was the ultimatum, absolutely, yes.”
Another lady, who said she was 45 years old, spoke saying: “They are playing chess with our lives, and right now they have hit checkmate because Dunkley is in power, Gibbons is in power, we may not see the Triminghams, but they are in power.”
The meeting ended with Walton Brown saying, “The struggle continues…we will leave it at that.”
The “Important Facts” sheet that was handed out at the meeting, which follows below [PDF here]
Read More About
Category: All, News, Politics, Videos
At least one white face made it.
Politicians should never decide the pathway to citizenship because they are biased (and for some their decision making abilities are clouded with hate). The issue of citizenship is a human rights issue, and because of that the pathway to citizenship should be decided by an independent human rights commission.
This is not a Human Rights Issue, as PRCs are not STATELESS and they maintain their citizenship in their homelands. They are free to move and go back home whenever they wish.
The PRCs were informed from day one that they were NOT ENTITLED to STATUS and therefore should not have any expectations to Status. This sense of “ENTITILEMENT” must be addressed.
Bermuda requires a Comprehensive Review of Immigration LAWS and POLICIES.
The PLP pushing for such review is key moving forward.
Yet the plp have never once attempted to grant status to the Uighers, who are stateless. What you meant to say was the issue is not about human rights but about votes, right Betty? There is no sense of entitlement, the plp opened the gate for them. The only sense of entitlement that should be addressed is the one where Bermudians feel entitled to a job no matter how poor their performance.
The facts are as they are, regardless, the PLP created the rights of PRCs. The PLP ensured that long-term residences got to stay in Bermuda.
This is therefore this Bermuda Requires a Comprehension Review of our Immigration Laws
Despite the battle of the UBPoba folks to dispel the message, the reality is the same. FACTS can not be undone, no matter how hard they try.
It I am Betty or not the message is the same. Thanks OBAubp fans for following me, and reading my message… Thanks so much.. I love you all. I know how your likely to disagree regardless, but hopefully some day you will disagree based upon the issue and not the political party.
Keep writing Transparency it does not matter if you are Betty or not. What you say is what is important. Ignore those PAID OBA Bloggers whom are getting a cut from that 300, 0000.
Keep it coming
Where do I get my cut of the 300,000? I want in now since $300,000 isn’t a whole lot, especially shared. Instead I’m waking up with a massive hangover from hell to go to my second job. Ironic you would bring up paid bloggers after my comment below. Betty, Transparency for NOPE, literally touched on nothing I said and ceased the opportunity to write more propaganda. On a brighter note my head feels there’s a cheese grater on my brain and it isn’t from reading “Betty’s” illiterate coments.
I will take my cut from the 800 million
I guess you bought Betty’s lies. You were so easily fooled. SMDH
Betty Trump/ Transparency Now, you have spewed PLP political propagamda ignoring the substance and message for years. You accuse concerned Bermudians of being exactly what you are.
The devil is in your heart. Shame on you, in your lust to feed off the souls and twist the minds of others.
Bbwwhahaahaha..Bermudians accusing others of having a sense of entitlement..purlease!
And you are wrong, dead wrong. It is an HR issue.
Why the different name ?…deceitful are the PLP hate mongers
The official/unofficial PLP have probably changed their name from Betty to Transparency Now because they have agreed in another comment that said that all those PRC that fall under the so called “loophole” the PLP created to have status. They need to pay attention so they don’t slip up.
The comment is on the OBA “Enough of the Rhetoric” on PRC thread on Bernews. June 26 10.18pm where Betty agrees with the comments made by clearsasmud.
@ RingMaster..This issue regarding long-term residence is one that Bermuda must take time to review carefully. It is very important and despite what the OBAubp says, this is NOT “like a country trying to deal with a refugee problem by simply shutting down the camps where refugees live” and to attempt to compare the PRC issue to a refugee problem is offensive
I call for a Comprehensive Review of our Immigration laws.
FACT: Further to that: we have must consider that every country has the right to create immigration legislation and policies that take into account their unique circumstances. In Bermuda’s case, our limited size means that our lands have to be carefully managed in order to protect access for our future generations.
THIS IS KEY moving forward.
If a review was critical, as Mr. Brown has previously stated, why then was one not carried out, they had 14 years. The OBA, has been in for 1 and half, and when the house hasn’t been getting congested by the rantings of Mr. Bean, they have been trying to focus of getting the economy back on its feet and bring business back to Bermuda so that people can get back to work. The PLP new campaign of misrepresentation and, well quite frankly, segregation against a contributing sector of our community, will only serve to slow the process down. The PLP’s only goal in this is to bog it down for as long as possible, in the hopes that they can get to another election where they might win back power and then be the ones deciding the immigration reform policy.
This really has very little to do with protecting the rights of all Bermudians and more to do with protect the odds of the PLP returning to power. If the PLP were so dead set against granting PRC’s status, then why put the clause in granting them so, and if they were being informed that the PRC was not a means to status, then the PLP were lying to them. Someone in the PLP put that clause in, so someone meant to create an avenue for status, and as it was not openly discussed, it was slipped in as a back door. They just realized they forgot to close the door.
@Black Soil,
You said, “The issue of citizenship is a human rights issue,” I beg to differ.
For all countries, and I mean ALL countries, Immigration is a matter of national political importance for so many reasons.
Crime – criminals who do not have citizenship, we can deny them the right to enter our borders. Protecting us from dangerous immigrants, such as potential terrorist. The HRC would not deny someone citizenship because they are a criminal. That is not the job of a HRC.
Health – We can deny people with contagious diseases or mental illnesses the right to enter our borders. Again this is not the job of a HRC.
Immigration and the Labor Force – Immigration laws are designed to limit the number of workers entering the country so that there is not a surplus of workers. When there are more workers, there are fewer jobs available for citizens already within the country. This what applies to us the most. This is a big, and very real concern.
National Security – Most importantly, Immigration laws are used to prevent potential enemies of the country, whether Bermuda or UK, from entering our country. Again this is not the job of a HRC.
I think all countries have a sovereign right to determine conditions of entry and stay in their territories. At the same time, I do believe governments take in the human rights or they should take in the human rights when making immigration laws. A human rights commission would not, and does not take into account any of those things I highlighted above. The HRC would take the rights of the individual migrant over the rights or protection of the country. That is not right.
We have a way for migrants, non-citizens, to obtain some sort of citizenship, and that is the PRC status. All we need to do is close the loophole.
I am afraid that while we do need to have a definitive immigration policy, we have become so anti-Bermudian, towards both Blacks and White Bermudians, we are constantly putting down our own people, and taking care of everyone’s interest and rights but not our own.
National Security – Most importantly, Immigration laws are used to prevent potential enemies of the country, whether Bermuda or UK, from entering our country. Again this is not the job of a HRC.
Just one of your reasons not to grant status.
What you fail to grasp is, these people have been here since 1989 or before. They didn’t just arrive on a boat. They have contributed too our well being, they own property, they can live here until they die but they cannot have a say in how they or their family are represented. Keeping in mind, they may like being led by the nose to greener pastures. Time to correct this and give them what is rightfully theirs.
What? You’re way off. I never said it was a reason not to grant status. Where did you get that from?
It said Immigration is a matter of national political importance for so many reasons and it is not for a HRC. I listed those reasons.
The meeting follows a recent Court ruling which allowed for a pathway to status for Permanent Residence Certificate [PRC] holders.
I copied and pasted from your previous post word for word. Did you not read what you posted?
What does: “National Security – Most importantly, Immigration laws are used to prevent potential enemies of the country, whether Bermuda or UK, from entering our country. Again this is not the job of a HRC.” actually mean regarding those folk who could apply for status?
It is not a Human Rights issue dim bulb. Read the UN’s Declaration on Human Rights.
Thanks @Stan, this is not an HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUEm despite many wanting to use this as a method of rationalization.
The reality is the PRCs are not STATELESS they maintain their citizenship in their homelands. Many can return anytime they wish. The PLP ensured that they are also able to remain in Bermuda for as long as they like as well.
You are correct.
The PLP are continuing their 1960 Bermuda behaviour. So, so much has changed since then. To me it simply comes down to whether this very small, isolated group of beautiful sub-tropical islands will continue to change and evolve into a growing, open, progressive, caring, inclusive society, or regress into a closed, conservative, shrinking, backwater. We already have many signs of regression:- 6 years of economic decline vs. 2 years for USA, many Bermudians leaving to live elsewhere (esp. the UK), massive public & private debt, large numbers of empty homes, deteriorating infrastructure, (Airport, roads, bridges, ferries, old hotels, old powerplants), massive Govt. financial assistance, aging unhealthy population (heart disease, obesity, diabetes, addiction, cancer etc.) almost empty schools (many Govt. Primary schools only have about 100 students), a new hospital that we cannot afford, etc..
No surprise that they make more money that has never changed, but their unemployment rate is 5% less NOW THAT”S F@##ED UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger needs glasses.
The issue as critical as the granting of status must NOT occur via a loophole as it violates the original intent and spirit of the PRC legislation.
PLP provided a way for long-term residences to remain in Bermuda, via the PRC legislation.
The UBPOba requested they all return to their homeland instead. PLP took actions to ensure they had some level of long-term stay in Bermuda. Well done PLP for caring for the people. The PLP stood up for the long-term residence, the UBPoba fell down.
Bermuda requires at this time careful “Comprehensive Review of our Immigrations Laws and Policies”, as this will impact many. I call on the government to move in this direction to ensure we make the best decision moving forward and for our long-term outlooks.
Hi Betty Trump (Burty) in disguise again.
“Betty” has previously agreed with giving status to all those that are eligible because of the “loophole” created by the PLP. Too late to call for a halt to granting status as already agreed.
So what, what’s the big deal, you have not uncovered any big plan. I use this name from time to time.. most know that…go grow up. The message is the same and will be based upon FACTS… WHEN WILL THE OBAUPB fans debate the issues rather than always engaging in petty political silly tilly nonsense on most days. Same folks daily…
THE ISSUE REQUIRES CAREFUL COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW….
The PLP never agreed to anything, stop with the twist and games as this matter is too serious to play with. The jokers of the OBAubp Ringmaster and HMMM just do not get it, but after all what can we expect coming from them.
The reality is BERMUDA needs a Complete Comprehensive REVIEW of our Immigrations Policies and LAWS, ad various person of PRCs and long-term residences fall into various categories, which require review and revision.
Are you arguing with yourself hatemonger. Burty
PLP, admitting once again how poor a Govt. they were. More troubling is watching the PLP, founded to fight for peoples right to vote, fight to deprive others of the same right.
For a party that claims to be looking out for the best interests of “people” this “selective” behaviour is really disgraceful.
All interests deserve to be looked after–not just some.
Sadly this political party contiues to show its immaturity.
Hopefully there will be an evolution in thinking–
I am hopeful the grass roots will see that all human beings deserve to have their contributions recognised and their human rights protected.
Surely this has to form part of their thinking given the parties origins…..
Please recall the historical background in regards to this matter. It was the PLP whom were the party whom ensured that long-term residence remain in Bermuda. PLP was the party whom developed PRCs. It was the UBPoba party whom recommended that all long-term residence should return back to their homeland. It was PLP whom took on a more logical and respectful approach to a long term problem that we were faced with during that time.
PRC during the granting of such, were told and informed that they were not entitled to status and therefore should not have any expectation to status. This was put on the table from day one.
This is not a human rights issue as PRCs are not stateless, they maintain their citizenship in their homelands.
Each country has the right to create immigration legislation and policies that take into account their unique circumstances. In Bermuda’s case, our limited size means that our lands have to be carefully managed in order to protect access for future generations.
Many Jurisdictions grant residence the right to purchase land and the right to worked without also extending the right to vote e.g., persons who hold a US green card are not allowed to vote.
Removal of the term limits means that we could potentially be faced with a new wave of long-term residents seeking status. We have to address this as well.
A Comprehensive Review of our Immigration Laws and Policies is a MUST.
and Betty Trump is at it again in new disguise.
Why the need to disguise yourself in order to garner attention and promote the PLP ?????
I would not trust you because of this deceit
The real FACTS have been presented, regardless if I am BETTY or not, it does not change the FACTS. MOVE ON, and maybe grow up….if your able too.
FACTS: OBA introducing the notion of commercial immigration and the selling of status.
FACTS: Protesting the granting of status of PRCs is key to ensure that a Comprehensive REVIEW Of our Immigraton LAWS IS DONE FIRST.
WE MUST ADDRESS This ISSUE.
Many people and groups lobbied for the LTR. The PLP had no intention to give people Permanent Residence.
It was in fact the PLP who encouraged discussion on this topic and it was part of their platform and election mandate. Know your facts before you speak. The UBP at the time stood on the platform against creating a means of residency.
They are about black nationalism and black power. That is why they are up in arms. Tea Party hooliganism.
Don’t insult the Tea Party.
The PLP stood up for all citizens thus creating the PRCs category. This allowed our Long-Term Residence to remain here on the Island. While during that time the UBPoba suggested they should return home to their homelands. We must now stop and carefully consider a Comprehensive Review of our Immigrations Laws.
This matter is not something we can play with and quickly move on. It must be carefully considered and thus the call for a “Comprehensive Review of our Immigration Laws”. If we want to be fair to all, this is the only way we can do it. It is not about fear, but rather about the future for generations of Bermudians.
We can not address a certain sector of our PRCs and leave others out. We need to look carefully as to how all persons whom do not fall in to one category or another will be addressed. We also need to consider the impact of OBAubp granting Status for Commercial Immigration purposes will impact Bermuda as well, persons born in Bermuda to expats etc…, lots to examine, not a simple issue here..
Give it up BT Betty
Give what up? Whoever that is is stating FACTS! Just because they don’t flow with your agenda, doesn’t discredit what is the truth.
Whoever that is, is a propaganda machine. No more, no less. Always hailing the plp as some form of god given savior to the island and ALWAYS degrading the oba. Not one single objective comment from this poster with multiple identities. You need wake up. I get a few sentences into their comments and just can’t read anymore, not unlike kangoocar who’s head is shoved so far up the oba’s a$$ it’s not funny. They’re on both sides, own your mind.
The blogger behind the mask has already agreed that it is right to give status to PRC.
If a comprehensive review is sought it should include those who are not born in Bermuda but claim to be born Bermudians. Add in those who married non Bermudians and the spouses claim status or whose parents came from abroad and the playing field may start to look level.
STOP WITH YOUR NONONSE @RINGERMASTER. how do the OBAubp associate themselves with folks like you. Daily you spew out the same distasteful lies and political rhetoric. I presenting facts and logical presentation. YOU presented twisted logic and lies. GET over your self.
Now the FACTS: THE OBA refuse to close the loophole in a covert way.
WE MUST HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Distasteful lies and political rhetoric? Quote some. If you want disteful lies and political rhetoric look no further than the sheet handed out at the meeting which contained deliberate lies and distortions to inflame emotions. Fact. You have agreed with a blogger who said let PRC’s have status but probably didn’t realize it, so you are now lying to say they shouldn’t have status. You have called for a Comprehensive review of Immigration Laws. I have raised the issues of non Bermudians marrying Bermudians, Bermudians born abroad and those with parents born abroad. Clearly PLP Comprehensive does not mean Comprehensive, and clearly just relates just to long term residents. That is not Comprehensive. Fact.
Is that why you use the name Black Soil? You want to fit in….
@Black Soil it was the P.L.P that fought for the Portuguese and when they got accepted as being White they now dis Blacks by not hiring them on their construction jobs so on that note Black Nationalism and Black Power is not that bad as you think.
I thought about going to this meeting but I already knew what path it would take and what card will be played. I have many BLACK friends who are PRC holders and although they maintain ties with their home country (as many PLP members announce their family origins on a regular basis), they have spent all their lives here in Bermuda, were educated in Bermuda and have only ever worked in Bermuda and likely have contributed more to Bermudian society than some of us ‘locals’.
There should always be a pathway to citizenship available to those that want it. If I was to marry an American and move to the USA, after so many years I can apply for citizenship and earn the rights and privileges that any American has. Or I can just live off my green card, work, pay taxes and live like any other American but just not be able to vote.
It’s time for Bermuda to update it’s citizenship laws.
Why try to compare a little island with limited employment resources to such a large country like the USA.
Like everywhere else, Bermuda has its PRC guidelines, why open the flood gates up?
If they feel that they want all the same rights as Bermudians, then they should be made to give up their citizenship to whatever country they are naturalized in. Now let’s see how many applications that little clause keeps.
In that case Bermudians should be made to give up the rights to education work and welfare in the UK. Sorry you can’t have your cake and eat it too.
IF required we should now seek to review our Immigrations Laws to ensure we leave no one out. We should ensure that we plan for the future, and regard the possible outcomes of granting such status. This matter is serious, and rush to make decisions is not the best way forward. But no Status should be granted via default. An issue as critical as the granting of status must not occur via a loophole as it violates the original intent and spirit of the PRC legislation.
Consider the possibility it was done on purpose to allow the government of the day to confer status on whom they chose…..it’s not a loophole, it was designed that way and now it’s biting them in the ass.
There is still a linger misconception about how the PRC’s are eligible for status, it is not a Loophole as so many like to compare it to, but an actual clause in the law. Straight up, those PRC’s that are eligible for status, should be granted should they so apply.
I do agree that our immigration laws are in need of further reform and one of those reforms should be qualification for voting rights. If someone is eligible to vote here after 18 years, simply because of who they were born to, and irregardless of any criminal past, then why should we not give that right to someone who has been law abiding, working and contributing to this country for that long as well. The right to have a choice in the politics that govern your life in the long run, is a right that should be granted to those that have earned it, and not refused because it is politically convenient.
Their supposed facts sheet contains so many padded statistics, half truths and misrepresentations that to call it a facts sheet is an outright lie. If the intent of the PRC legislation had not been to provide this ability to PRC’s, then why include a clause allowing it. Someone in the PLP would have read and known the clause was there, but as it was never openly discussed before now, it must have been snuck in there. Were they trying to get a few of their friends in and forgot to close the door?
I kind of get what you are saying.
1. You may be right that it is not a loophole rather in is a clause in the law. Whether it is a loophole or clause, it is something that should not be there. This was a clear oversight of the PLP when they were in power. However it is, the responsibility, of THIS government, to correct this wrong. Close the loophole or remove the clause. This does not take long to do. Get it done.
2. ” If someone is eligible to vote here after 18 years, simply because of who they were born to, and irregardless of any criminal past, then why should we not give that right to someone who has been law abiding, working and contributing to this country for that long as well. ”
As long as a person is a PRC holder they should not have the right to vote. Whether they have been a PRC holder for the past 10, 18, 20, or 25 years. Only citizens should have the right to vote. I assume you would agree there. What we need to definitively declare is how long should PRC holders have to wait, in order to be granted full citizenship. The right to vote is a privilege in any democratic country and should not be something that is just given out. In the US, because we like to use them as an example, I could hold a PRC/green card for 10 years. Then I would have to reapply. As long as I am a green card holder I cannot vote.
There is a big difference granting someone the privilege to vote “after 18 years, simply because of who they were born to” and granting this privilege to someone who has been migrated here and been here for that long. Most Bermudians have a family history that goes back decades or even centuries. Our families, that have helped shaped this island, throughout blood shed, sweat, tears, struggles, civil unrest, etc, as descendants we have an inheritance right to vote because we are natural citizens. Compared to someone who came in for job/economic who have not had generational investment or interest into our country. This is the same in other countries.
I will state again, we do need FAIR immigration reform, that protects Bermudians, while at the same time does not alienate migrants.
You have made some very key points. Thanks for such a insightful comment. Enjoy reading.
You, yourself have compared the PRC as to the American green card, but not mentioned that the green card is a path to actual citizenship. The right to vote is indeed a privilege, so why not give it to someone who has proven their commitment for almost 2 decades. If they are here for the long haul, they should have the right to have a say in the politics that will,effect heir lives over that log haul? To do less is to treat them as second class citizens, even though most will have contribute more than some ‘birthright’ citizens. The most important factor s they can prove that they have been law abiding, tax paying citizens in that time.
You’re absolutely right.
I replied to Celery above where this person basically said the same thing that green card holders can apply for citizenship after 3-5 years.
This is basically a summary of what I said.
I compared the PRCs holder status to the green card simply to show we have something equivalent to the green card here in Bermuda which grants qualifying migrants some sort of residency status – nothing more. The two are almost identical.
In terms of the granting of full citizenship, larger countries such as the United States, Canada, the UK have more “space” to allow citizenship in quicker time period. Space in terms of land size, economy size, job market size, economy and industry sizes, etc and I am sure you can add more to that list.
So, of course, a country of our size has a right to make the pathway to full citizenship longer or even harder to obtain. The UN have also stated that smaller countries, islands, and overseas territories have a right to control/shape their immigration policies to protect Immigration and the Labor Force and amongst other things such as overpopulation. We cannot have the same citizenship policy in terms of time period of those larger countries, that would be unfair to us.
What we have to take into account are the numbers. Numbers in this case have a multiplier effect. We can’t say, okay right now we’re granting 2,000 people citizenship and their family members. The following year or two another 500 people, possibly more, qualify for citizenship, these numbers which could be a reality is not sustainable for an island of this size. That is why I suggested above a longer wait period to obtain full citizenship than the green card.
Like I said above, what we need is FAIR compressive immigration reform, that protects generations of Bermudians, while at the same time does not alienate migrants. I believe that is the right thing to do.
Family history is one thing, but it is the measure of the individual that truly counts. If you are counting on the entitlement of the past, then you are ignoring your responsibility to the future.
Under your definition Dr. E. F. Gordon should not have been allowed to become a Bermudian
Under what definition. Please clarify.
I said the difference between someone born here to parents and families that have a generational citizenship/history/investment into the island comported to someone just coming here for work/economic reasons. However, NO WHERE, did I say that this is a reason for anemone not to be allowed to become a Bermuda. NO WHERE!!
I said, ” I will state again, we do need FAIR immigration reform, that protects Bermudians, while at the same time does not alienate migrants.” If I have to spell it out when I said “alienate migrants” means not offering some some pathway to citizenship (in the long term).
I don’t understand where you see that I defined anything as a resin why someone would not become a citizenship. I could be wrong, please point that out.
“As long as a person is a PRC holder they should not have the right to vote. Whether they have been a PRC holder for the past 10, 18, 20, or 25 years. Only citizens should have the right to vote.”
“Our families, that have helped shaped this island, throughout blood shed, sweat, tears, struggles, civil unrest, etc, as descendants we have an inheritance right to vote because we are natural citizens. Compared to someone who came in for job/economic who have not had generational investment or interest into our country.
Why try to compare a little island with limited employment resources to such a large country like the USA.
Like everywhere else, Bermuda has its PRC guidelines, why open the flood gates up?
There are no open flood gates! These folks are already here and have been since 1989 or before, in case you missed it.
“Or I can just live off my green card, work, pay taxes and live like any other American but just not be able to vote.”
Could you please clarify that above statement. To my mind the PRC that we have is the is the equivalent of the green card.
The Green card is this
A lawful permanent resident receives a photo identity card that is, literally, green. The card is evidence that he or she has the right to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis; to travel and return; and to petition for close family members to also receive green cards.
This is what the PRC status is….please correct me if I am wrong.
It continues…
However, green card holders cannot do everything that U.S. citizens can. They cannot vote in U.S. elections. They cannot remain outside the U.S. for unlimited amounts of time or make their home elsewhere – doing so will result in abandonment of their residency and refusal of their request to reenter the United States. They can lose their residency rights by failing to advise U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of changes in their address, committing crimes or acts of espionage or terrorism, and more.
So why do we in Bermuda, with a heck of a less resources than the US, less environmental land space, less job opportunities, etc need to give people full citizenship? Why is the PRC status not enough. With the PRC they can live here as long as they want, don’t have to leave, they can seek employment. These holders have every right we do besides the right to vote.
Why can’t they just keep their PRC status? Why full citizenship?
The difference is that in 3-5years a green card holder can apply for citizenship. Three years if you married to a US citizen and 5 years if you are just applying.
A person married to a Bermudian can also apply for citizenship, it might be longer, but they can also apply.
I was simply comparing the green card to our PRC status which clearly shows that they are equivalent. In terms of the granting of full citizenship, larger countries such as the United States, Canada, the UK have more “space” to allow citizenship. Space in terms of land size, economy size, job market size, economy and industry sizes, etc. I am sure you can add more to that list.
Of course, a country of our size has a right to make it longer for when a person can apply for citizenship and we have a right to deny full citizenship. The UN have also stated that smaller countries, islands, and overseas territories have a right to control/shape their immigration policies to protect Immigration and the Labor Force and amongst other things such as overpopulation. The land size of the united states is little over 3.7 million square miles.
You give 3,000 people full citizenship, some estimates say the number could reach 8,000, what is the multiplier number over the next decades. What happens when these 3,000 – 8,000 people retire, businesses here would then need to bring in more people to replace the retiring, they get PRC status, then they too would have a right eventually to full citizenship. Count in all their family members who also should have a right. Multiply this over the next 3, 4 , decades.
How does this not impact generations of Bermudians over the years? Other countries, including the United States and Canada have immigration policies that protects their citizens first. Why can’t a small island such as Bermuda do the same?
If we want to grant migrants full citizenship in Bermuda, they must first be a PRC holder, then must be one for a long time, at least 10+ years. Or something along those lines.
Let’s be clear, because people do have agendas. Citizenship is about one thing – the right to vote.
@Raw Onion…….stop lying, you had no intentions of going to Devonshire Rec last night.
Correction……..any
I love people like yourself that open up with I have many black friends or I have gay friends. your comment as your name smells of raw onions.
“Mr. Commissiong said, “I am sure that the thousands of largely white and Anglo PRC holders who have been here prior to 1989 must feel as if Jesus himself answered their prayers.”
And there it is.
Are you surprised? It’s all abput race and votes. It’s always about race and votes.
Both parties have something to gain or lose from this. The historical facts reveal that UBPoba used granting of status as a way for political gain must not be taken lightly.
Folks were allowed to vote in less than 3 years, which ensured the UBPoba remained the government for a long period of time. If you recall this left a bitter taste in many Bermudians mouths in terms of how this was used by the UBPoba. I would hope that would not go down the same pathway today and create an even more bitter taste to folks.
There are many other critical factors that also must be considered as well. As Bermuda has a limited land mass and jobs for locals is also key. As now we currently have PRC unemployment rate at 2%, while Bermudian unemployment rate is at 7%. Medium income of NonBermudians is also at $81,601 while PRCs medium income is %58,640. The land for future generations of Bermudians must be looked at carefully and the several other factors as well.
I call on the government to do a “Comprehensive Review of our Immigration LAWS” it is critical moving forward.
Hi Betty Trump
Thanks Transparency Now for that brilliant and insightful comment.
Hope the Dieharts will bite at that one….lol
I read that too,I didn’t expect anything other than that from him,he decided not to include the many Black people that are PRC holders..
He is not Political at all in any of his remarks,we all know exactly what he is.
Yep, one can always rely on the likes of Commissiong to show their true colours from time to time (excuse the pun).
My “friend” Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, for some God damn reason you, (like many others) fail to acknowledge this fact, where did our ancestors come from? We all came from elsewhere Rolfe…So please bie’ stop the crap and deal a straight hand without the B/S. for once!Look around and count the numerous people from elsewhere married to “we’lot”… You and some others not only sound, but are too pathetic at times.
Yes Raymond we all come from somewhere, but you are overlooking historical facts. Blacks came here under force and bad conditions. While others came here later and attempted to take ownership of the land and country by other means. It Think the real history is deep and often not accepted by some folks, more so overlooked.
Your submission has nothing to do with 2014. Your (and my) ancestors suffered the indignity of slavery…. not you….the sooner we stop playing victim, the better off we’ll all be….even after 14yrs of ‘black rule’ you’ve learned nothing?
I beg to differ…Who carried the “blacks” to Bermuda? Now you can see who are the real Bermudians right?
What’s that bit of scriptures, “before attempting to remove the splinter from out of the eye of someone else, first remove the plank from your own”? It’s not even a matter of who came first e.g. “the chicken or the egg” it’s a matter of wrong and right / good over evil…It’s that simple
So it’s not just xenophobia it’s also racism.
Got it, thanks MP Commissiong!
no! it doesnt work the other way remember.
Standing up for your own people and future generations of Bermudians is not Xxenophobia .
Xenophobia is a term coined by the OBAubp to make individuals feel bad about supporting and standing up for Bermudians first. NO one should feel bad for supporting their own people. This is comment practice in any country. Bermudians do not be fooled.
Is he implying Jesus is white? Did Jesus ever do anything for him?
If I remember correctly Rolfe Commissiong believed in the Catholic Liberation Theology!
Indeed, Rolfe did attend Mount Saint Agnes back in the day…Maybe he’s still trapped in that frame of mind
(Ace-boy, just say 3 hail Mary’s and all’s forgiven)
If Mr. Commissiong really said that, he sounds to me like a bit of a racist.
Just curious!
1.What country did the ESSO STEEL BAND come from?
2.What year was that?
3.Does the name Rudy Commissiong ring a bell?
Nuff said!
I was not aware that there was a “hiring hierarchy” in the legislation that means Bermudians are ranked higher than Spouses of Bermudians or PRC holders… is this truly legislation?
I’ve never heard this before and it certainly isn’t being applied to my knowledge…
No it isn’t (unless anyone can cut and paste form the legislation to prove me wrong). From an employment perspective, Bermudians, SOB’s and PRC holders are the same. It’s a PLP lie to whip up the masses.
Now, that’s not to say they do ‘t wish that to be the case…..
it IS a blatant plp LIE!
I think you must mean “It is ANOTHER PLP lie”. Why but why don’t the OBA call them out on their lies each and every time?
Probably because that’s what the PLP want…tit for tat arguments to prevent meaningful work being done in the house.
PLP are desperate to sacrifice Bermuda for their own personal agendas.
Makes me sick.
The PLP would consider that disrespectful if they were called out. Just ask Belinda Cyrus.
The OBA cant call anyone on lies because they are all lie and the truth is not in them.
Erm OK. ??
But it is not a lie, it is a PLP policy, though not on the books, it was their policy while they were in government. They of course, expect this to be applied across the board, so it is not that they treat PRC’s as second class citizens, they treat them as third class citizens. It’s their spouses they treat as second class.
I believe that is a policy for hiring within the government only, not the employment act. But i think gov HR has a bermudian > Spouse > PRC policy..
They might, but that’s technically illegal
in most cases a born Bermudian would be hired before a spouse of a Bermudian seen it happen
The law does not provide for any sort of ranking system among Bermudians, Spouses of Bermudians, and PRC holders. Since none of them need work permits Immigration has no input into the hiring situation.
What an individual employer may do is another matter.
Actually I’d like to take it a step further; since I’m from Somerset, I rank people born in Somerset higher than those who just moved here, and they’re higher than people born in Southampton, which is almost Somerset ….
If I hired like that, I’d have a short lived company staffed with less than ideal people.
Fair enough, I’ve never seen it happen but I’m not familiar with how government runs its shop.
That is illegal discrimination.
Incorrect.
The only place there is a “hiring heirarchy” is with respect to certain government jobs. And that has nothing to do with the legislation. It’s just something that was inserted in a union contract many years ago (long before the concept of PRC) was introduced and was intended to discriminate against Spouses of Bermudians.
Yes, there is a hierarchy. Look at the bermuda government website under immigration and then click on work permit policies 2013. It is on page 6. The order is:
Bermudian
non-Bermudian spouse (including the widow or widower) of a Bermudian divorced parent of a Bermudian
Permanent Resident‘s Certificate holder
non-Bermudian with a qualifying Bermudian connection
other non-Bermudians
This has been the case for MANY years. All employers know (or should know) this already. In practice, it is rarely an issue, but there have been odd exceptions. Of course, as long as the employee doesn’t need a work permit, immigration won’t know about it or get involved unless someone launches a complaint.
Plus it’s policy, not legislation…
“Talks need to lead to action,” added Mr. Brown.
I took action in 1998….and the result was that we are back to pre-1998 politics….no progress, still complaining about being 2nd class to everyone else…..we had 14yrs and did nothing for the people… just the same old shyte.
On the flip side of granting status, I’m an expat on two year permit. I send over half of my salary home in case I find myself jobless in two years. I’m ok with that as it is what I signed up for.
If we are talking about PRCs here pre 1989, they might have amassed a fair amount of savings that they would be more likely to spend here in Bermuda.
IF expats were not in Bermuda,Bermuda would cease to exist as we know it now!…but that is moving from the subject this article relates too…
No not really but the crux of all this is the PLP and their pathologically xenophobic stance. What’s disturbing is that after 14 years, we can all see how detrimental that very stance was to the Bermudian economy and yet they, the very engineers of the start of our demise, still stand by their xenophobic views. Really what’s it going to take before the PLP and their supporters see how damaging all this is.
Why would PRC holders have to renounce their citizenship elsewhere if “real Bermudians” do not have to renounce their British citizenship to have Bermudian status?
I’m not British….BOTCs are less than that. “Bermudian” is a term used to pacify….. ‘Bermudians’
Exactly! I have both, and have no intention of giving either up!
Seriously????? Bermuda is not independent, we’re a colony of Great Britain . . .duuuuuhhhhh!!!!!
I agree. Why should they have to denounce other citizenship when we as bermudians can have multiple citizenships? Sick and tired of this self entitlement mentality that we are better than everyone else. PLP are pathetic. Go away. MB’s wife is not bermudian. Half of these lot are hypocrites! And the big problem is that there are still people out there that cannot see through the PLP BS. It truly is amazing. As a bermudian, i ams SICK of this PLP. DISGUSTED.
This quite simply has to be the PLP at their most desperate and pathetic.
I wish I could feel sorry for them – but alas, I can’t.
Perhaps they should have got up and done something instead of fleecing the public – they had 14 years after all.
PLP – Pot Loving Party
Mr. Commissiong said, “I am sure that the thousands of largely white and Anglo PRC holders who have been here prior to 1989 must feel as if Jesus himself answered their prayers.”
PLP’s “Justice League of Bermuda” calling!
Xenophobes and Racists unite!
All gambles in life carry risk or reward . The reward of Bermuda status guarantees generations of born Bermudians .
Excellent point, Coffee! Our country cannot sustain itself with its aging population and falling birthrate.
PRCs average salary stat shows that in almost all cases PRCs are university educated. New educated status bermudians are bad for PLP business. It makes political sense for the PLP to oppose this, why are we overthinking this issue, the PLP would be crazy to support something like status for PRC.
The PLP introduced the notion of commercial immigration.
What short memories people have.
They prayer at the beginning sets the tone as to the bigotry and blind faithfulness. Do you think that God, the white bearded fictional character in the sky is peering down from the clouds at little tiny Dev Rec and thinking, ‘it must be my will that xenophobia prevails, it must be my will that the OBA be held to task over a PLP legislative blunder?’
The PLP are afraid that these white, anglo saxon, middle class and well educated voters will not vote for them. So their response is to stir the xenophobic pot, rile their sheep with emotion! It really changes nothing, apart from giving rights to citizens of this Island who have contributed a great deal to our community and our economy.
This PLP/BIU ‘us v them” mentality has got to stop. We all want jobs we all want financial security but at the end of the day immigration is not going to guarantee that to anyone who is not willing to become educated, qualified and improve their work effort.
The money that pays civil service (BIU) workers comes from the private middle class worker (non BIU)
The money that employs the middle class private sector worker comes from where? (local and foreign investors) The majority of which relies or has resulted from immigration.
The PLP were singing the praises of the Green family when they bought the HP, but under the PLP thinking would it not mean that the Green brothers would never have become Bermudian in the first place? Failure to see how good quality immigration policies benefit the Island is just stupidity!
After all, God is obviously the one pulling all the strings, so no matter what we do it does not really matter!
How sad it is to see a once great party seemingly taking its last breath. The current incumbents should be embarrassed – especially Commissiong. Bring race into it why don’t you. Honestly why am I surprised? I suppoes the next thing will be why weren’t their more white faces there?
With comments like Commissiong’s, the average white would have felt uncomfortable. But then that’s what the PLP always relied on – intimidation towards whites to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible. Its a shame you can’t come into this century.
PLP – You will never ever build things up by knocking things down. The more you listen to the likes of Commissiong and Walton, the less likely you will ever be of being in power again. And don’t get me started about your current leader – what a complete waste of space.
He may actually end up doing you more harm than your fearless American leader. Thank goodness he went back home. You’re stuck with the current one as this is his home. think about that for a minute.
Mr Walton Brown, Mrs Lois Brown-Evans fought against the number of non-Bermudian British people that were able to vote in elections before 1968. The number agreed to was 250.
“A test of democracy is not the magnificence of buildings or the speed of automobiles or the efficiency of air transportation, but rather the care given to the welfare of all the people”- Helen Adams Keller, lecturer and author (1880-1968)
This is a numbers game, in my opinion.
The PLP are concerned the potential new voters will vote OBA.
But, significant numbers of PLP supporters stayed home and did not vote in the last election.
So, the next election has the potential to be very interesting.
OBA can potentially have a larger voting base, but PLP supporters may not stay home this time.
What is funny here is that the OBA once again are being blamed by the PLP for a mess that the PLP created in the first place!? The hypocrisy is mind boggling!
Zzzzzzzzz…………………………
Who cares about this person Sanderson?
Why does the PLP always have to name someone as if they are some devil? Far as I’m concerned, he’s a private citizen. Leave it at that.
TThat was the night before all those fake want to be showboats did it in Hamilton!
The actions of the PLP confirm the failures of their 14 years as the Government….between the ridiculous rankings of Marc Bean and the alienation of PRC’s they continue to show that they do not get it and have just insured the OBA that the PLP has lost direction and will not return to government for a long time…..thank you
A “Comprehensive Review of our Immigrations Laws” is key. The PLP call for this ensures they are on the right pathway. Any right thinking government, who understands the seriousness of this issue will also consider such a review. We can not march ahead in the mud without review and dialogue and serious discourse in regards to this matter. It is key moving forward for all of Bermuda.
If a review was critical, as Mr. Brown has previously stated, why then was one not carried out, they had 14 years. The OBA, has been in for 1 and half, and when the house hasn’t been getting congested by the rantings of Mr. Bean, they have been trying to focus of getting the economy back on its feet and bring business back to Bermuda so that people can get back to work. The PLP new campaign of misrepresentation and, well quite frankly, segregation against a contributing sector of our community, will only serve to slow the process down. The PLP’s only goal in this is to bog it down for as long as possible, in the hopes that they can get to another election where they might win back power and then be the ones deciding the immigration reform policy. This really has very little to do with protecting the rights of all Bermudians and more to do with protect the odds of the PLP returning to power.
Plp…you should think before you speak…next time you want to pay lip service to something…perhaps you should…tell you what…go get yourself bout a case of chapstick…and give one more phone call!
It is not black and white…it is right and wrong…one man is wrong he’s wrong….two men are wrong…no man is right!….guess what….the one chnce your given to exhibit right from wrong…to be that change…you took it apon yourself to be wrong!….Try it again….this time …be that change…throw that wrong away and choose better…be better….do you or do you not know what love is?Good Lord gave you two hands…one to help yourself….and one to help others……
Didn’t say nothin bout no damn color!
Well re-iterrated Raymond!
She could planely sea errything…
Eron Hill sounds like the new Cannonier!
This just may go down in history as the most disasteroud PR stunt ever pulled by the Pot Loving Party. We all know this is about votes, votes & also votes. Nothing more and nothing less. Only the very least intelligent will believe otherwise.
PLP should have embraced the PRCs because then some of them might have actually voted for them.
PLP has now successfully killed any chance for a PRC to EVER vote PLP. Their irresponible actions have finally become their own downfall.
Its December 2012 all over again people! Merry Christmas.
PLP has effed up yet again!!!!!!!
Does the PLP have an official stance on Born Bermudians who marry non Bermudians? I know the former PLP government was against this as per their discriminatory home ownership legislation. The new opposition has not indicated if they are for or against marriage to non bermudians.
Marrying non Bermudians does the exact same ‘damage’ the PLP indicates the PRC issue will do (only more so as it will occur faster and affect more people than those PRCs here prior to 1989), we can only assume that every one of us who has married a non bermudian is not welcome in the PLP.
I am always staggered how the party that claims to be ‘of the people’ regards Bermudians as unemployable failures who could not compete with any other person on the global workplace…do PLP supporters ever stop to think how low regard the PLP has of Bermudians? Please try to argue that FACT, in one hand the PLP will stick up for Bermuda but in the other hand they openly indicate that Bermudians are sub standard?
As with everything else PLP, it really depends on whether the foreign spouses “look like them”.
That has always been the way the PLP operated, and it has finally bitten them in the behind. There is no room for a racist party such as the PLP in modern society.
PLP should have courted and embraced these potential new voters, by opposing this they are making permanent enemies of them.
In addition, and as usual, they have made it a race issue. Boring! So last century.
@Starting point The Questions you put forward, are the reason why a “Comprehensive Review of our Immigrations Laws” is necessary and a must. As not everyone falls into one category. A review as called for by the PLP would hopefully address these outstanding concerns and Questions.
…and also put this issue on hold long enough not give these people status until after the elections maybe…..just saying it seems very obvious what all this really is about to me!
Hi All. This is a copy and paste from what I recently posted on the RG:
1) The photo published elsewhere does Sean an injustice as he was not at all hostile, and engaged me with a question I had not previously considered. The point of these meetings is to have open dialogue and conversation, so I am grateful that Mr. Dill listened and posed the question.
2) I received a lot of support from the attendees. Many of them were colleagues, former school teachers, friends, and associates. The PLP issued an open invitation to the town hall meeting, and I was comfortable entering the space and sharing.
3) I stated that I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else nor any organisation, demographic, or nationality. Unfortunately there were not enough people there last night adding to the debate from a PRC perspective, but that didn’t have to be the case.
4) A great trait that Bermudians have is that they genuinely care about their nation’s prosperity. It is unfair to impose a policy as sensitive as this one is without comprehensive consultation and patience from all stakeholders prior to the discretionary granting of status.
You can email me if you have any direct questions: tiagogarcia100@gmail.com, however please understand that the meeting last night was productive, honest, and needed. We will not be able to find common ground in online chat rooms, so if there are further public sessions on this topic, please consider attending, sharing, and understanding other people’s perspective and insight.
Thanks Tiago, for you feedback and reply.
Hi Tiago,
Interesting question by Mr. Dill – I must tell you that I had to become a citizen of a particular country at age 23 (before that I was stateless) after I was told by the local immigration department that I was not Bermudian and that my BOTD passport would not and could not be renewed – I was born in Bermuda, used a work permit to work in my own homeland, there have been 4 generations of my family here in Bermuda, I have a University Degree, I am law abiding, I am a community volunteer – but have been prevented over the years to fully participate in many of my homeland’s economic and social affairs. I really don’t want to mention political affairs as I am not too interested in voting rights – Democracy means much more than the ability to vote . . .
BTW..who wrote the law that is causing all this problem?
BTW..who wrote the law that is causing all this problem? and I don’t mean which party, I mean which person?
It was deliberately written and tucked away so that the PLP could sneak their pals status unnoticed – and I am informed that they did. There was no accident, just deception.
The loophole was missed by both sides. As the law is brought to the house, and reviewed by both political parties. Lawyers from the AG office and private sector also missed the loophole. But after all laws can be interpreted by 16 lawyers in a different way. Laws always require revisions and review. This is therefore is not the fault of anyone. The government can take the best step and close the Loophole, as proposed by the Opposition in the house. This they did not do, but instead sort to appeal the law, which they know they have little if no chance of winning. What does that say?
The game of whose fault it was or not is not of any significance in this regard, but rather the move towards changing it is key! We can play that game all day, but working towards changing the loop hole would be best.
Want to buy a bridge?
In this instance, I think you are wrong. It was deliberately written that way by the PLP Government.
Maybe? Are status grants public knowledge? Or is it all in a dark locked cabinet in the depths of the immigration department? At one time didn’t grants have to be gazetted or is this a relic of time gone past?
Again, not a loophole, but an actual clause, which means someone knew what they were writing in.
Did Belina Cyrus attend the meeting? She apparently often has a lot to say about foreigners.
It strikes me that Mr. Rolfe Commissiong’s agenda is to establish a (reverse) Apartheid state. We have a situation in which children born in Bermuda to PRC’s, spending their lives here because this is where there families are and not by choice, will never have the right to vote, own certain properties, etc – and mainly because they happen to have been born white.
there = their! Sorry.
any political party that tries to use race as an issue is doomed to failure..one only has to look at the 19th Century and the Millions of people that died fighting bloody world wars for FREEDOM!
Puts the PLP in a bit of a fix doesn’t it…let’s say they get their way and the grant of status is denied. those PRC’s and many more can get BOT Citizenship (and there’s nothing Immigration can do about it). If the PLP then push for independence, all those become eligible to be naturalized citizens in “a “new independent Bermuda”. Ta da!
So really delaying status for these folks is really just putting off the inevitable.
So come on PLP. Instead of fighting this, why don’t you become more inclusive, less racist, less homophobic and less xenophobic, come up with a workable economic plan, dump the ignorance of Bean and Commissiong and go out and court the vote. You’re not going to get it any other way.
Commissiong only picked on the “white and Anglo PRC holders”, as he describes them. He didn’t comment at all on the black PRC holders. I wonder why?
Commissiong has no valid argument to make. He therefore has to make everything about race. Take the race out of any of his comments and you have nothing. I once knew an old timer who did nothing but talk about the war – equally as sad, pathetic & boring.
Commissiong has completely lost relevance now and is barely even remembered for his brief banking career. Pretty soon he’ll be forgotten entirely. Who?
No contribution to make other than bring up the same tired old rhetoric.
If Bermuda were to become independent not only would PRC holders and those with BOT citizenship be granted “Bermuda Citizenship” but anyone that has been here for any extended period of time (i.e., 7 years) would also become citizens [where do you think the idea of term limits came from].
It would be very interesting to know what the average education level of the people who attended was and why it’s so important to our dwindling population that the next generation study in areas whereby they have the qualifications to do the jobs currently filled by expats. There won’t be any way to employee Bermudians if they don’t have the skills required to fill available positions. If an ad if for a nurse and a Bermudian without any experience or even a high school education applies, should they automatically just be given that job? That unfortunately seems to be how some people think
That “115″ was awarded by the PLP since 2001, NOT BY THE OBA. How propagandist the PLP are AT TWISTING THE TRUTH.
His comment suggests that he’d be fine with granting status to prc’s if they were mostly black (and therefore more likely to vote plp …in his mind)and this clearly sums up the issue from the plp perspective…the rest is distraction. Thanks for lleavingno doubt Rolfe.
Important “Facts”.
As a citizen of the UK, you are unable to vote if you have been out of the UK for 15 years or more. If you lived in any other country in the world after decades you would have been granted voting and rights of citizenship. Most countries give you these rights after 7 years.
Why would people wish to prevent contributing members of their society from voting? Is that not the opposite of democracy.
Let me tell you a story Anon about how Bermuda’s race based immigration policy affected Bermudians. The argument of course has been made that I was not alive when slavery was in existence and therefore I am not to blame? But during the time of slavery that was when white privilege was put in place where generations of whites benefited.
Fast forward to today; generations of black Bermudians had their natural aspirations compromise if not disavowed. Now I am going to relate a personal experience that took place during the time I went to school. Some people may know Foxy who used to live up government gate; he used to be a hotel worker; but before that he worked in Bermuda’s school system as a substitute teacher and at that time the term was not in common use. He was among many Bermudians who were working in Bermuda’s school system who did not have teaching certificates. In Foxy case he was a natural; but you know what the than UBP government did; They fired all those Bermudian teachers who did not have certificates and brought in all these foreigners mostly from England and many of those did not have teaching certificates. I remember one particular person young guy from England; he was intimidate by our class in a all boys school who were at that time in full revolt. He admitted before the class that he was not a teacher; he merely had serve three years in the Royal Air Force and took the opportunity to come to Bermuda. This type of ignorance; and that is in plain Bermudian colloquialism ; went on all over Bermuda the compromising of Bermudian natural aspirations in favour of people being brought in here. Now I remember when the PLP put in place this current PRC rule with it’s now big loop hole. They did so against the wishes of their own supporters. I went to some of those meetings and the people were angry at the proposed immigration reforms and rightly so because they had experience some of this putting down of Bermudian aspirations in favour of people comming in from the outside.
The great irony today in this regard is this; some of these very same people who benefited from the PRC rule put in place by the former PLP government; are some of the most vehement political critics both during the time the PLP was the government and now during this term of being the political opposition. In short the PLP got nothing for trying to be fair and even going against the wishes of it’s own political supporters.That’s why I say ‘Never Again’ and I hope that the PLP has learnt it’s lesson and will never again once it returns to the government; put what is in Bermuda’s national interests behind that which they consider to be fair.
Ok Alvin, so how is this applicable now in this day and age, as the majority of the eligible PRC’s are educated, qualified and already employed? No one within Government has ever stated their intention is to fly people in to replace jobs, particularly of civil servants and teachers!? You are a clear example of the divisive miss-information that the PLP seeks to feed the public.
Since your focus remains on the past, how about looking forward for a change. These people have lived among us for 25 years and contribute to the economy and our community!? Is it because some of them maybe white, that you inherently mistrust them and despise them?
Alvin, I look forward to a day when you can make your case without moaning about race and slavery. I’m not holding my breath though – because without race and slavery – you’d have no point at all.
Children of PRC holders are born and raised in Bermuda and many know nothing other than the Bermudian culture and way of life. Bermuda is and will always be their home and the least they deserve is status as they aren’t true citizens of where their parents came from. It is painful to be born and brought up in a country and to know you will never be considered a true citizen of that country by politicians who are scared of a few extra votes. Therefore, in a way it does involve human rights.
Yes but PRCs were also told not to expect status and that they were not stateless. So how is this a human rights issue?
This is whole thing is the PLPs biggest c@ck-up to date (and there have some big ones) and now their scrambling to repair this self inflicted wound. Ha
I know people who speak English as their second language better than these politicians.
I consider that a really foolish thing to say. What’s your point?
I think the PLP and this whole failure to allow people who have invested their lives in Bermuda and in more cases than not contribute to building a better society for all are being targeted by the “peoples” party to deny tem the basic right to vote…..A little hypocritical and a whole lot racist!
I was Born here did all of my schooling here graduated and now work i really only know the Bermudian way. I have only visited my parents country twice and my father is 52 and has now lived more years in Bermuda then in the country he was born Azores now does it sound fair that im not granted Status or my parents who have lived here for basically 30 years. Are they afraid we wont vote for them “PLP” well if thats the case they should be now because if I ever get my status i will always vote against them because of this.
Well, OBA will definitely be a one hit wonder!! And that be the truth, everyone is talking about this one young and old.
There are so many PRC holders who have worked for more than 40 years on this island. They have paid their taxes and supported the Bermuda economy for the entire time….rents, groceries, restaurants, barbers/ hairdresers, hosting a whole host of tourists who have also contributed They have cared passionately for the people of this country (teachers and nurses for example) and have never showed bias in what they were employed to do.They have remained silent because they had no voice. They are not entitled to any benefits despite having contributed to the system (many have contributed nothing). They have been here because there was and still is a shortage of Bermudians to fill key, hands on positions..more so in nursing,radiology and health care in general.
I see so many Bermudians going to the UK to access free housing and benefits without having contributed at all to the system ( and I have no problem with that given that we are not independent),they have more entitlement in my mind than other EU countries. It is not easy to just up sticks and “go back home”, wherever home is after years of an overseas career. Not everything is cut and dried and this is becoming an ugly political football. I am Bermudian and have many friends who are PRC holders as well as friends from every nation …it’s not about blaming previous political administrations but finding a way forward to manage this issue with compassion and diplomacy and common sense for the future…God Bless Bermuda because there are some difficult mountains ahead of us…
@ just saying: Such a great letter. Now I pray it’ll touch the hearts of the many people that oppose allowing them who’ve spent sooooo many years here on the Island of Bermuda,(helping us all) Bermuda status / citizenship. They eared and deserve it, as do their siblings!
Typo: They’ve earned and deserve it, as do their siblings!