increasingly tough immigration crackdown.

The work permit blitz has sent a shudder through the Portuguese community.

Now Government has vowed to look again into their plight -- heightened by the recession.

This could pave the way for a special policy for non-Bermudians who have been here a long time.

Yesterday Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman revealed plans for a possible immigration shake-up.

He said figures on the non-Bermudian workforce would be gathered over the coming months.

It would throw light on the number of expatriates, length of residency, and job categories.

The mammoth statistical exercise could lay the groundwork for policy changes.

But Mr. Pearman strongly warned against any false optimism, and refused to commit himself to a time-frame.

"I don't want to mislead anyone. I don't want people to draw false hopes,'' he stressed.

"We are going to have to work very hard on getting all the statistics. Only then will we have a clear picture of the situation.'' Mr. Pearman also emphasised that Government firmly believed in a "humane'' immigration policy.

"We are concerned about people,'' he stated.

Government's move follows a meeting with lawyer Mr. Trevor Moniz, adopted United Bermuda Party candidate for Smith's South.

Mr. Moniz, of Portuguese descent, has taken up the cause of the non-Bermudians.

Yesterday he told The Royal Gazette the huge Portuguese community was being particularly hard hit as bosses are told to employ Bermudians.

Work permits were not being renewed for people who had been on the Island as long as 25 years.

A kitchen porter, whose 15-year-old daughter had been born here, was among recent victims, said Mr. Moniz.

"Every week people are not having permits renewed. It's a familiar story,'' he added.

"There is a great sense of insecurity, and it's not just among the Portuguese.'' There were happier tales, however.

A plea for compassion had recently succeeded for a widow who had been here 25 years, revealed Mr. Moniz.

Although not working at the time, her five children all live in Bermuda.

Mr. Moniz said he believed Bermuda had a moral duty to non-Bermudians who had been here 15 years or more.

Many Portuguese people had worked extremely hard, and done minimum wage jobs Bermudians shied away from.

"They did jobs before the recession nobody wanted to do,'' stressed Mr.

Moniz.

"They delighted employers because they had the immigrant philosophy of hard work.

"They were self-motivated and very well liked and respected.'' Mr. Moniz called for non-Bermudians to be given similar rights granted expatriates in Western countries, like the United Kingdom.

"I accept the needs of Bermudians must come first, but I believe a specific policy should be introduced for those who have been here a long time.'' Mr. Moniz said he had urged Mr. Pearman to bring in a "specially enunciated policy''.

"The Minister said my suggestion was under consideration, and he was looking into it.'' The Portuguese Consul Dr. Francisco Correia has stressed his hands are restricted in checking the tide of work permit refusals.

He said it was important to understand the motivation of Bermuda's Government.