August 9, 2014

Dear Sir,

Bermuda has no spare land for development and must limit its population. Control of immigration is only one part of the solution, but an important part.

Past use of immigration policy has tended to increase white voters. I recommend a fair policy for those born in Bermuda of parents originating from other countries.

We should attempt to foresee the effects of any pertinent legislation.

All foresight has some error so we cannot foretell exactly the future, but we should not shut our eyes and plunge blindly forward.

The PRC certificate has done one important thing. It has given long-stay immigrants the right to work. Does it need modification?

The children of PRCs should have a clear view of their future and have some rights.

We need an impartial explanation from the press of how the present law works because the ether is full of political statements about the law which could be one-sided and not mention everything in the law.

I have other ideas about PRCs but hesitate to comment when I do not have all the facts. However, I do make some general observations.

We should take note of emigration as well. I do not refer to any possibility of legislation but suggest we look at England, an island which is separated from the rest of Europe, who looked outward as well as inward and the former British Empire is the result.

If Bermudians travel they find that they can be understood in most parts of the world when they speak English!

Next look at Scotland, a separate, some might say somewhat isolated, part of England. They export educated professionals and managers to many parts of the former British Empire.

Then look at India, a really overpopulated country, who exported professionals abroad also. India has now become a major centre for computer outsourcing.

Finally look at Israel, who very quietly is behind many major scientific applications because its citizens are well educated.

England used to be moderately populated, Scotland has always been sparsely populated, India we have mentioned already as overpopulated. All promote education of citizens.

When we look at populations, let us not forget birth rates.

Joseph brought his father’s family to Egypt, all seventy of them. I leave our readers to research how many Israelites left Egypt with Moses.

There were a lot more! Now look at ourselves! We are doing well educating our children following the good example of England, Scotland, Israel, and India.

What about the comparative costs? When the education is within the financial reach of most citizens, emigration is an answer to ‘no jobs at home’, whatever the reason. Emigration has not dimmed the prospects of educated people from England, Scotland or India.

The cost of education is an important factor in our planning for the future. The sizes of our families are a most important factor even if immigration is limited.

Government is unlikely to pass any legislation that affects this last factor. We must use our other God-given physical gifts as well as our mouths and feet.

Bermuda is still another world in one sense, however our economy is now more obviously just one part of a global economic interaction.

Our educated people must also be ready for eventual assimilation in a cosmopolitan colour-blind world where good work attitudes, good personal relations and good educational preparation are indiscriminately rewarded.

This utopia has not yet come into full sight, but is just around the corner.

BERTRAM GUISHARD