elsewhere for her willingness to listen to all sides in the debate on long term residents.

It is becoming increasingly clear that some of those opposed to giving additional rights to long term residents are less open minded.

On Friday, the Mid-Ocean News reported that some people at the first long term residents meeting felt intimidated from speaking. Similar concerns have been voiced since the meeting in St. George's on Thursday.

No-one would disagree that this issue is an emotional one for all concerned.

For non-Bermudians who have been here for decades, it is not surprising if they feel they are being treated as second class citizens, or that they should also be eligible for rights which would be freely granted in many other countries.

For Bermudians, and this especially applies to black Bermudians, there are fears that a blanket grant of status or residence rights would lead to the Island being "taken over'', with jobs and homes being taken, and if the vote were granted, choice of government and well.

This has always been a major complaint of the Progressive Labour Party which assumes that most status Bermudians would vote for the United Bermuda Party, something which may be a self-fulfilling prophecy since the PLP engaged in expat-bashing for 30 years.

Nonetheless, the fear that Bermuda would be taken over is genuinely felt and has to be addressed. Bermuda may be unusual in how it treats long term residents, but few other countries have foreign nationals making up one third of their workforce and that is a natural cause of insecurity.

The purpose of the current discussions is to examine all fears and insecurities and to ensure a fair decision is made. But to do that, all voices must be heard. the panels have been fairly representative of a wide range of views, but the personal stories of non-Bermudians have not been heard.

There are growing claims that the meetings are being stacked by union supporters who monopolise the floor speeches and intimidate the non-Bermudians who attend the meetings.

If this is true, it is unacceptable. Ms Cox and the moderators of the meetings must ensure that all points of view are heard and that no-one is allowed to intimidate or scare people. If that cannot be achieved, then the final decision that is made on the issue may have the force of law, but it will not have the moral stature needed to make it hold.

STORM WARNING EDT Storm warning Hurricane Florence may have been a damp squib, but it is a timely reminder that this hurricane season is far from over.

The way Florence was immobile for days and then moved past Bermuda at great speed is also a reminder of just how unpredictable hurricanes can be.

Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is the only approach to take.