Hundreds of concerned members of the Portuguese community flocked to a church hall to put their fears about long-term residency down on paper.

Anna Faria, spokesperson for the Portuguese Bermudian Association, told the Royal Gazette that people turned out in droves yesterday afternoon to receive assistance from volunteers offering to help residents put their feelings on the issue into words.

And she said that an additional session may be held to meet the overwhelming demand and to help those who could not take advantage of yesterday's service.

"We are thinking of doing it again, we had so many requests,'' Ms Faria said.

"A lot of people were not able to make it so we may do it again.

"We were really busy. It was packed. We stayed an extra hour just to meet the demand.'' She estimated that almost 300 people took advantage of the service at St.

Theresa's Cathedral in Hamilton. "We have well over 200, maybe even 300 letters to send to the Minister. And some of the letters were printed out and sent home with the residents.'' Ms Faria said the one-day service was arranged to help those in the Portuguese community compose a letter expressing their concerns for a secure future in Bermuda.

"The letters are to respond to the Government's Green Paper of long-term residents,'' she explained. "We had people with computers on hand to help people put together their letters.'' Last month the Government held a series of open meetings to gauge the public's perception on the emotive issue of how to give long-term residents security while protecting the rights of Bermudians. Hundreds of people attended the three meetings in Hamilton, Somerset and St. George's.

According to statistics in the Government's discussion paper there are 2,034 foreign-born, 20-year residents on the Island.

The Portuguese community form the second largest group -- behind the British -- which have a vested interest in the debate.

Options up for discussion include blanket awards of status to people who have lived in Bermuda for more than 20 years, a one-year amnesty giving a one-off chance for status and a "green card'' system similar to that in operation in the US.

Ms Faria said the letters collected during yesterday's service would be delivered to Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness before the end of the month.