The UBP has accused the PLP of twisting the figures on its election pledge to grant Bermudian status to long-term residents and their children.

The party has admitted that previous UBP administrations failed to address the rights of long term residents but said it plans to fix this if it wins tomorrow's election.

Their manifesto says: "The United Bermuda Party recognises the inequities in the existing system whereby some members of one family unit have Permanent Residency and others have Bermuda Status. This inequity is particularly prevalent in the Portuguese and West-Indian communities."

They have pledged to review the system and grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents who have lived on the Island for more than 20 years and arrived prior to moratorium imposed in 1989.

However, the plan sparked criticism from the Progressive Labour Party with Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess saying that it could lead to up to 8,000 new Bermudians.

Premier Ewart Brown said in a televised speech last night: "The United Bermuda Party is pledging to take away our Bermudian birthright, by vowing to give status to permanent residents.

"Think hard about this one — With the stroke of a pen, the UBP will give up to 8,000 people all the rights that Bermudians have.

"At a time when we already have too few resources for Bermudians and a frightening scarcity of land still owned by Bermudians, the United Bermuda Party has pledged to give status to up to 8,000 foreigners and allow them to buy our land, dilute our vote, quiet our voices and deprive our children and grandchildren of what is rightfully theirs. "

However, the UBP hit back yesterday, with Deputy Opposition Leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin saying: "Once again, the PLP Government is scaremongering to get people to vote for them. "In the case of the UBP's position on long-term residents, they are grossly manipulating statistics to mislead people, just like they did with high school graduation rates and tourism arrival figures."

On Saturday, this newspaper reported that it was unable to obtain an up-to-date figure on the number of Permanent Residents Certificates issued since the Bermuda Protection and Immigration Act in 2002.

However, in March 2004, Government reported 869 had been granted from an estimated 1,100 people eligible to apply.

In an apparent reference to this, Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said: "First the PLP said 8,000 people will be eligible, a day later it was down to 4,000.

"The Royal Gazette reporting from most recently available Government figures shows the number to be 869 Permanent Residency Certificate holders.

"One has to wonder, if The Royal Gazette can get actual figures from Government, why can't Government get actual figures from Government?"

"We know the answer. This campaign has shown that the PLP will do anything and say anything to maintain their grip on power.

"The United Bermuda Party's motive in addressing the issue of long-term residents is to shut down inequities in the name of family unity.

"Under current conditions, there are families with older members as permanent residents and children with status.

"We think the issue should be addressed and to that end we will formally study the issue with a view to publishing guidelines and conditions for review.

"That's the specific commitment we have made. Nothing that comes out of this review — we repeat nothing — can be granted without the full support of the House of Assembly.

"It is a matter for national consultation and decision — not behind-closed-doors decision-making as the PLP have shown with their use of Special Development Orders to bypass public discussion."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin added: "That the PLP would twist our position into a plan to create thousands of new Bermudians reveals something desperate at the centre of their election campaign.

"Anything, it seems, but the truth. Anything to mislead people for a vote."

However, the PLP hit back last night, with party chairman David Burt saying:"Let me help Ms. Gordon-Pamplin by referring to her own platform which

states, 'the UBP supports the granting of Bermuda status to long-term residents who were here prior to the moratorium imposed in 1989. According to the 2000 Census, there are 4,177 persons that fall into that category. When spouses and family members are taken into account it is entirely reasonable to expect that number to grow as high as 8,000.

"The Progressive Labour Party is bewildered that the UBP would even consider such an action. How will granting Bermuda status to permanent residents help Bermudians?"