Dear Sir,

While I sincerely applaud Michael Fahy creating a pathway to Bermudian status for expatriates, a bigger problem facing Bermudians should be addressed first.

There are many Bermudians living overseas having children, and in each instance, the Bermudian parent must then apply for status for their child, which isn’t a guaranteed process and is also arbitrary.

I’ve heard many exhausting and expensive stories of the lengths Bermudian parents have gone to ensure their child is almost certainly guaranteed Bermudian citizenship. A Bermudian mother flying to Bermuda in her eighth month of pregnancy — not once, but twice — for her child to be born in Bermuda so there could be no doubt of its nationality.

I’ve heard of a Bermudian couple living overseas expecting their first child, who hire lawyers at their own expense to try to determine if their child, if born overseas, would be able to establish Bermudian status. The lawyers have been able only to tell them “they have a good case because they have strong family ties to the island”.

Then there are the heartbreaking stories of those who were denied. I’ve heard of a Bermudian mother moving back to Bermuda after fleeing an abusive relationship overseas with her two children, both aged under 3, receiving a letter from the immigration department stating that both children aren’t Bermudian and must therefore leave the country. Imagine that mother having to fight for her children to stay with her, and immigration demanding that they be sent back to the very father whom they fled? These aren’t extreme examples. These are the norm.

Now also imagine a Bermudian mother, living abroad, not being able to:

1, Afford the airfare to fly to Bermuda to have their child on Bermudian soil

2, On bed rest and on doctor’s orders that they are unable to risk their health, and that of their child, to fly to Bermuda in their eighth month of pregnancy

3, Not having insurance to cover the cost of the hospital expense of childbirth in Bermuda

4, The father not being granted paternity leave to be able to be in the country for their child’s birth

Those are scenarios that many Bermudians overseas face every day when deciding to have children.

I’ve contacted immigration and have asked for a guide, a fact sheet ... something that outlines the requirements for a Bermudian parent living overseas to be able to get status for their child if born overseas. Every time, I’ve been told it’s done on a “case-by-case” basis. Why is there no clear-cut criteria that outlines who is entitled to Bermudian status?

If these children are able to return to Bermuda, they create economic wealth in our country, bridge the gap to our ageing population and offset our existing “brain drain” of young Bermudians seeking opportunities overseas. Imagine the amount of business owners, taxi drivers, bus operators and teachers who are unable to contribute to our economy — and society? We have a wealth of citizens waiting to be allowed entrance into a country that, by birth, they have a right to be in.

I would like to welcome those Bermudians who have, or are going through, this struggle to share their stories about registering their children, successfully or unsuccessfully, as Bermudian. I would like to petition the Minister of Home Affairs to try to create a clear path for those born to Bermudian parents, to get citizenship, in addition to our expatriate neighbours.

Please e-mail your stories at bermudianstatus@gmail.com. These will be compiled and sent with a letter to Mr Fahy to plead our case.

NINA THOMPSON

Paget