The group Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB) have called on Government to address the issue surrounding Permanent Resident’s Certificate holders though “a comprehensive and bipartisan immigration review”.

The debate centres around a loophole in immigration legislation that could potentially pave the way for a number of PRC holders to gain Bermudian status.

The PLP and OBA have clashed over the numbers involved: Government maintains about 1,500 residents stand to obtain status, while the PLP cites a figure of more than 6,000

In a statement released today, CURB said that their research into the subject of immigration “unearthed many examples of oppressive immigration policies, multiple examples of en masse banishment of all Free Blacks on the Island prior to 1834, evidence of restrictions to voting, gerrymandering and population control.”

In light of this, CURB called for Government to “take into account Bermuda’s oppressive and discriminatory history with regard to racialized immigration legislation and discriminatory voting rights”, and to “listen to the increasing concerns of further marginalization and disenfranchisement of the Black Bermudian community”.

Acknowledging that there was “a great deal of confusion” among the public regarding the number of persons that might be awarded status immediately and in the future, CURB asked Government to hold bipartisan talks over the issue, including “the people’s input through public hearings” to “ensure that the process is transparent and fully participatory, and that the end result forms a community consensus on a national immigration plan for the 21st century.”

In conducting research for a “position paper” to be released shortly, CURB added: “We have come to more fully understand the absolute frustration and dismay that so many Black Bermudians express over this further marginalization and threat of disenfranchisement.”