OBA Contradicts PRC Status Grant “Distortions”
The debate over the Government’s decision to withdraw the appeal in the PRC status matter continues, with the One Bermuda Alliance contradicting what it said were “distortions” around the issue.
The OBA said that any perception that granting status to PRC holders will take jobs from Bermudians is untrue, as PRCs already have full freedom of employment, and already have jobs.
The party also addressed the thought that PRC holders will make it more difficult for Bermudians to own real estate, saying that many PRCs already own property.
“Status would simply allow them to purchase real estate without top-of-the-market-only restrictions, which now limit them. New real estate activity can in any event help to restore the value to people’s homes that has been lost in the depressed market of recent years,” added the OBA.
Not everyone agrees with the OBA, with the Opposition having raised objections to this decision, as has Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda [CURB], while the People’s Campaign and Bermuda Trade Union Congress have called for people to join them today [July 25] for a protest march over the matter.
The full statement from the OBA is below:
The OBA Government’s decision to allow certain Permanent Resident Certificate holders to apply for status was not taken lightly, but it was taken without reservation because it was based on a clear interpretation of the law, with due regard for justice and human rights and because, in the final analysis, it is the compassionate and right thing to do.
Nonetheless, the Opposition continues to distort the facts around the decision, trying to impair fair consideration of the issue. These are the main distortions:
1. There are “many thousands” of people involved.
Not so. Immigration records indicate that 1,455 PRCs are potentially eligible for status under Section 20B of the Immigration and Protection Act.
The number of children who would be eligible for status is not known, but is believed to be small, given that in order to apply for status on the basis of their parent’s new status, they would have to be 18 years old but under the age of 22, ordinarily resident in Bermuda for five years immediately preceding their application and without a conviction for any offence that shows they are morally unsuitable.
Spouses of these PRC holders who are not Bermudian would have to have been married to their newly Bermudian husbands or wives for 10 years from the date of their status grant to be eligible.
2. Granting status to these individuals will take jobs from Bermudians.
Not so. PRCs already have full freedom of employment. They already have jobs. They would not be taking jobs from Bermudians.
3. PRC holders will make it more difficult for Bermudians to own real estate.
Not so. Many PRCs already own property. Status would simply allow them to purchase real estate without top-of-the-market-only restrictions, which now limit them. New real estate activity can in any event help to restore the value to people’s homes that has been lost in the depressed market of recent years.
4. The decision on PRCs is a “power grab” for votes, as PRC holders will vote for the OBA.
Not so. No one could possibly tell how these people will vote now or into the future. They come from a variety of social and economic backgrounds, and from countries all around the world – Barbados, the UK, the United States, Jamaica, Portugal and Canada to name a few.
5. The OBA could quickly act to make “this problem” go away.
Not so. The moment the PLP passed the amendment to the Immigration Act that created this situation, it became the law of the land. Any legislation we try to pass now, especially since the Chief Justice interpreted the legislation the way he did, will be seen as the Government of Bermuda trying to take back rights already conferred by the amendment. That’s not what we’re about. In any case, it is the right thing to do.
6. Bermudians don’t want PRC holders to be given status.
Not so. An island-wide poll conducted by the marketing firm Global Research during the week of July 12 reported that more than half of Bermudians – 57% of us – supported the granting of status to PRC holders who had been resident in Bermuda since at least July 31st 1989. Only a third of us – 33% – said they should not be granted status.
The top reasons for supporting the grant of status to PRC holders were first, they have been contributing to Bermuda in a positive way for many years. Second, after more than 20 years, they are part of the community. Third, 25 years is a long time to be living in a country without being considered a part of it.
Global Research reported that people thought the Minister should view PRC holders on a case-by-case basis and perform background checks before granting status.
The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon Michael Fahy, responded, “That is exactly what the procedures in place will see to.”
- One Bermuda Alliance
See PLP, this is how you present an argument – with facts.
But I’m sure you’ll reply to this with more pot stirring by saying PRCs will take jobs and land away from “real” Bermudians…
Sane logical response
Thank you for standing up for the majority of Bermudian’s wishes on a very difficult issue.
THE TRUTH HURTS PLP…..HAHA
Something you guys don’t know about…..FACTS!!
Leave the PLP alone.
My rent decreased by about 40% during their leadership. Vote them back in next time as I’m worried it will start going back up!!
Friends and Family
If your rent decreased, it is because they helped tank our economy. It is great when your rent does go down for a change, that is until realize how many Bermudians rely rental incomes. If your rent is decreasing, that is symptom of a struggling economy, and ultimately not a good thing.
The 3 “groups” opposing P.R.C. residents be permitted status are like the 3 blind mice, “see no evil…do no evil and speak no evil”. I’d mentioned it before, “this is the Law, passed by the Opposition more than a decade ago” and now they wish to change that same Law…
Too bad, now live with it!
Thank you OBA, just keep moving us forward!
Politics often relies on manipulating the weak minded. PLP know this and take full advantage of it – pretty well as it happens.
They got voted in 3 times!
This all is getting ridiculous! Have we forgot that we grew up with these PRC holders? That they are part of the island? I guess we did. All of a sudden they should go home? SAD! How could YOU the people who 9 times out of 10 have friends, neighbors and family that are PRC holders whom more then likely have helped you in some way just turn on them because they are speaking up and asking for status? The funny part about all this is that Bermudian’s are always saying oh I have Indian in my blood or my family is from St. Kitts and all that type of stuff. That would mean that you all aren’t 100% Bermudian either so should we send you “home” too? PRC holders don’t get special treatment. Last I checked they get all the deductions in their pay just like I do. They paying their BELCO bills and BTC and everything else their money is going into the island as well as ours. Be real. WAKE UP BERMUDA you aren’t looking like the Bermuda I remember when I was growing up as a kid no wonder so many BERMUDIAN’S leave the island to live some where else!
4. The sad fact about Bermuda is that the vote is still deeply divided along racial and to a certain extent national lines, particularly as it relates to white Bermudians and status holders support of the OBA and former UBP. Some reports have indicated that approximately 500 of PRC holders are British nationals and history has proven that British status holders have traditionally been strong UBP / OBA supporters. The same can be said about many in the Portuguese and Portuguese Bermudian communities. One would be in denial to say that this is not a ‘power grab’ as perpetrated by the UBP in the past.
6. How can the survey quoted be considered a representative sample. As per ZBM, just under 70% of respondants were white Bermudians. The majority were also over the age of 65!
It’s sad that race matters so much in 2014 but then again to expect the lasting effects of segregation and overt and institutionalized racism to disappear in 50 odd years is simply not realistic!!
all paid bloggers = no credibility
So how do you get one of these ‘paid blogger’ jobs?
Another PLP myth.
there might be some truth to it but the PLP do the same so I guess “slouching” must apply the same logic yes? or is there a black white issue here to.
Hey, they do it, so why wouldn’t they think others do it too.
Don’t knock the PLP. Their crowning achievement was that they solved the rush hour traffic problem.
I take it you are referring to decreasing the number of people that go to work in the morning?
I won’t knock them for it … Rush hour traffic was never a issue BEFORE THE PLP TOOK POWER …… EVER ,!! And guess what , in your lifetime you’ll likely never see it as a problem in Bermuda again , especially under this failed regime !
@ Coffee,
Yes all those IB companies came rushing to Bda because the PLP became the Govt right?! LMAO
They inherited an economy and industry that was growing by leaps and bonds which sure as heck didn’t start in or after 1998 but lets not let facts get in the way of a good myth Coffee.
Mind you with their ‘I’m in charge now’ rhetoric and failed policies we know that they helped put Bda and Bermudians out of work but maybe that was the recession. Lol
Economy booming then all glory to the PLP, failing? then its the recession, the OBA or maybe those pesky Green Men’s fault, cool I got it now. lmao
Keep in mind, if the PLP/BIU did this right in the beginning, it would have been the only thing they did right.
The number of children who would be eligible for status is not known, but is believed to be small, given that in order to apply for status on the basis of their parent’s new status, they would have to be 18 years old but under the age of 22,…. So in reality the OBA has no idea whether 200 or 2000 children will be eligible but yet they’ve cut the scholarship for education .. Fools the lot of them !
PUTTING BERMUDIANS LAST SINCE DECEMBER 2012 !!!!
Coffee: These children would also have to have been born here. How unfortunate that you are so ignorant.
All of a sudden we have grown up with PRC’s? should really read some have grown up with PRC’s. There would not be this much opposition if there was really a closer relationship between the two groupings; they really would be seen as our compatriots. But no we are not been honest; the white born Bermudian has long being a minority; there are more foreign born whites in this country; they are the new white majority in the white population. We were warn that this would happen; former statesman and political leader the late Arnold Francis warn years ago that Bermuda was in danger of developing two societies with the importation of increased numbers of non-Bermudians mostly as a result of a race based immigration policy which favour the white would be immigrant. And we have developed two societies along with two economies. There was bound to be a clash some where down the road and now that day has arrived with thousands of Bermudians; mostly black Bermudians out of work; while ironically the white non-Bermudian has a lower unemployment rate than Bermuda’s black born majority population. This is grounds for conflict and it is right up in our face. It has now arrive to the point where it’s too late to talk about a truce about the need to live in peace; you have not created the conditions for that to exist. You won an election by insulting our leaders and maligning our people and some in their blindness have no understanding that if you go down that path; this will be the result unending social conflict between two groups.
The Uigurs got status yet?
They don’t qualify under any law that would grant naturalization or status. Technically they are under work permits which is a big stumbling block to get naturalized. Naturalization would be really the only valuable thing to them as I’m sure they like Bermuda but probably see themselves living elsewhere ultimately. With a British passport they’d be allowed to leave and settle elsewhere.
I haven’t heard the Hon. Premier state that he has the ability to close the loophole! All you hear from the OBA and their tired supporters is that the PLP created it!! Well grow a pair and amend it! The PLP opened the flood gates to Immigration and overpopulated the island. It was a disaster! Shortage of housing and jobs, too much trash, too much traffic and a water shortage. They know from experience of what not to do! If you want what you say you want, make an amendment to the legislation and suspend all applications. Then do an indepth study on the amount of resident Bermuda can comfortably handle. If you fail to do this you will ruin the natural beauty of Bermuda!
Actually the plp did the opposite. It wasn’t that long ago, how can you not remember? Our island needs a larger population yet this issue has nothing to do with that considering PRC’s are already here to stay with homes and jobs. Doing what the plp are calling for will open the flood gates for all PRC’s to eventually get status and not just the eligible few.
I have never heard President Obama blame the Republicans for leaving the US in such a state but the OBA sound like a bunch of wussies! No one begged your broken party to take on the PLP’s mess! Grow some b@lls, shut up and get on with the horrible mess you’re making. Hopefully the PLP wouldn’t complain about it like you do!
@Need Peace,
Surely you heard the PLP blaming the UBP for and lamenting needing a long time to “clean up the mess that the UBP left them” or did you forget that?. Yep a mess like over employment (remember that?) and a growing economy which meant lots of money to apply to the social ills that in fairness the UBP should have done better at.
The same Social ills which the PLP paid token attention to while building over budgeted Monoliths to boost their over inflated egos while bankrupting Bermuda.
Selective memory syndrome for sure.