Dear Sir,

Statesmanship and diplomacy are missing elements in this immigration exchange. It’s part of Bermuda’s historical legacy at various times, when the population for one reason or another was insufficient to meet the local demands, groups of people were introduced to the island. In 1850, we brought the Portuguese and then in 1880, the West Indian.

The present dilemma is precipitated by a building boom and rapidly expanding economy that lasted for more than 30 years, which has drastically contracted leaving an unsustainable infrastructure. Added to that is a naturally declining birth rate creating an ageing population. No amount of grandstanding can alter the facts of our situation and what we owe to succeeding generations. Concrete action and policy to address the matter are needed. The One Bermuda Alliance has introduced Pathways to Status, which, in spite of detractors, does in many ways help to improve or at the least maintain our population.

The opponents of the proposed Act do have a valid point when they say the OBA’s intent is votes. I have listened to Michael Fahy’s denial of any political motivation, saying he doesn’t care how they vote. But why not demonstrate that by putting restrictions in the proposed legislation.

Similarly, given that the vote issue is that which is most aggravating to the Progressive Labour Party, why waste time trying to score points on a bipartisan Joint Select Committee? Why not argue forthwith for amendments to the proposed Act, which would eliminate the vote issue? Working the people into a frenzy over something that is clearly wrong is undiplomatic and the better option would be getting the people to demand a three or four-year suspension of newly granted status persons’ right to vote or stand for office, coming by way of the newly proposed amendments to the Immigration Act.

What is the political objective of both parties? Is the vote a real objective of the OBA? Is the political imperative for immigration reform providing credible deniability of a another agenda for the OBA? Is the real objective of the PLP to gain suitable legislation or to embarrass the Government by fuelling dissent? Is social unrest more important to them than a sensible legislation?

KHALID WASI