Island for more than 20 years, the National Liberal Party declared yesterday.

The move was put forward as the "humanistic'' solution to the dilemma facing Government.

But the NLP stressed it should be a short-term measure -- otherwise the Island would become grossly over-populated.

"We are just too small an island to contain a large population growth,'' said party member Ms Debra Saltus yesterday.

The party went on to call for a drastic tightening up on work permit restrictions.

The proposal would prevent overseas workers being here more than six years.

Ms Saltus was speaking from a prepared text at a special NLP conference on the plight of long-term West Indian and Portuguese residents.

She was flanked by party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell, chairman Mr. Graeme Outerbridge, and spokeswoman and official Ms Cheryl Pooley.

Ms Saltus slammed Government for "gross negligence'' in tackling the problem, and all areas of unemployment.

She declared the NLP's main thrust was for Bermudians to come first.

It strongly backed the continued moratorium on granting status, with two crucial exceptions: Special amnesty status for those who have lived in Bermuda 20 years and over; and Status for those born in Bermuda when they reach 21, provided they have lived here 16 years.

Ms Saltus described the amnesty status as the best solution for the difficulty created by Government's "lax immigration policy.'' "However it must be prevented from continuing to happen for many reasons, the most significant being we are just too small an island to contain a large population growth,'' she said.

"The NLP is very firm in its belief that Bermudians must come first in our own island. At the same time our party is sympathetic to the lack of rights and insecurity faced by persons who have resided and worked in Bermuda for many years.'' Ms Saltus said overseas workers had contributed to Bermuda's economic progress through their hard work.

But they had also increased "stress'' on the environment, influenced voting results, and diminished impetus to Bermudianise workforces.

"As a result the NLP is in support of a policy that would eliminate the rights of employers to continually apply for work permit renewals,'' said Ms Saltus.

"We acknowledge that the employers have the right to apply for work permits when Bermudians are not available, however our party is against employers applying for more than one renewal.'' She added the party put forward five recommendations.

Extend permit time to three years for a contract worker.

Forbid contract workers to change jobs.

Require that any employer would only be able to reapply once.

Legislate that all employers advertise every year during the second term of the permit in case a Bermudian is qualified.

If a Bermudian is qualified the contract worker would be given three months to finish up.