Six voters in ten are against relaxing regulations to allow commercial immigration into the Island, according to statistician Cordell Riley.

The idea of “community-wide consultation” over adopting some form of commercial immigration, as a means of boosting Bermuda’s economy, has been on the cards since the 2013 Throne Speech.

In the survey, commercial immigration was approved only by persons in households earning $100,000 a year or more: 50 per cent were for it, and 43.1 per cent were against it. Households taking in less than $50,000 did not approve by 73 per cent and the number lowered to 60.7 per cent for the $50,000-$100,000 bracket.

Overall, one third of voters, or 34.4 per cent, favour the concept while 58 per cent oppose the idea.

The poll of 407 voters, carried out between April 15 and May 10, showed a difference by gender: women were 65 per cent against and men were 47.6 per cent against.

Younger voters aged 18 to 34 were divided: 45.5 per cent were opposed to a relaxation of immigration policy and 41.4 per cent favoured it.

However, 59.4 per cent of voters aged 35 to 54 were against and opposition rose to 64.1 per cent for those aged 55 and above.

The question posed reads as follows: “Would you be in favour, or would you oppose, relaxing current immigration controls to allow investors and more workers into the island, as a way to improve the economy?”