A group of political activists is calling for a referendum on the status of long-term residents.

And they are organising a petition against proposals to change status rights of non-Bermudians.

The issue was debated by MPs in a Green Paper at the last session of the House of Assembly and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness is now formulating amendments which he will put to the House at the next Parliamentary session.

Possible changes could include waiving the three-year advertising policy for jobs held by long-term residents, giving people with 20 years residence an automatic right to work or granting full Bermuda status to long-term residents.

But hotel worker Raymond Russell claims he has already collected about 80 signatures from people opposing any amendment to the policy.

And he says a team of five other petitioners are also out getting support calling for a referendum.

"At the end of the day it doesn't really matter how many signatures we get,'' Mr. Russell, 58, of Pembroke, said. "But we really ought to have a referendum on this -- it's far too important for politicians to be using political expediency.

"There's no such thing as having your own conscience in politics. It's a term that politicians use all the time but they should listen to the people before they go ahead and do what they think is right.

"There has been so much hypocrisy in Parliament anyway and I don't think politicians express themselves in a genuine way.

"The Opposition is just as bad because they live in the black community. The education system has failed our children and we now have youngsters sitting on the wall with nothing to do. We're in for some hard times and we need to protect our grandchildren.'' Last night Mr. Edness dismissed calls for a referendum, claiming it would be "unfair''.

And he also said the general public had already had massive input into the debate at public meetings and through correspondence.

"I think Mr. Russell is a bit late and also his motives are a bit obvious,'' he said. "This issue has already been discussed in the House and we also feel we have listened to a very comprehensive view from the general public.

"The next part of the plan is for the Government to prepare a White Paper which we are doing at the moment, although I cannot say what the changes are.

"But if we did have a referendum the outcome would be both predictable and unfair.

"There has already been a tremendous amount of public involvement, not only in public meetings but also we have had about 100 letters all of which have been taken into consideration.

"It's a matter of treating people fairly, both Bermudians as well as those people who have lived and worked and made a contribution here.''