Laws designed to allow members of mixed-status families to apply for Bermudian status are just the beginning of changes to immigration legislation, the labour minister told the House of Assembly.

Jason Hayward said the “repatriation and mixed-status amendments” would tackle the problem where some members of families qualified as Bermudian, but others did not.

The move means that those left out will be able to apply to the Department of Immigration for status and permanent resident's certificates

Mr Hayward, speaking at last Friday’s sitting of the House, said the bipartisan immigration reform committee, headed by Crystal Caesar, a Progressive Labour Party MP, would make recommendations on “how we proceed with long term residency”.

He added: “I think that is important because so long immigration policies have been used to divide this country.

“Now we need to come up with a winning formula that actually supports the people of this country – one that enables us to sustainably build our residential population, grow our economy and ensure that all of Bermuda can enjoy a prosperous future.”

The Throne speech revealed that Bermuda planned to ask the British government for more power to run its own affairs.

Mr Hayward said that Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General, would “roll out a comprehensive strategy of how that will take place”.

He added: “Our construct is old. The way in which we currently operate as a country is dated.

“In order for us to be flexible, nimble and have the ability to respond to this rapidly changing world, we need to look at areas of our constitution and determine what are causing barriers to progress.”

Susan Jackson of the One Bermuda Alliance told the House the Opposition’s theme for its Reply to the Throne Speech was “resetting the dial”.

Ms Jackson added there was a need to “pivot to a new way of thinking”.

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, said the PLP had been given an “overwhelming mandate” in last month’s General Election.

He added: “Clearly, this country believes we were the right team to lead during this time that is perhaps more difficult than it was during the Second World War.”

Diallo Rabain, the education minister, said middle schools would be abolished as part of a “mammoth task” of restructuring the public school system.

Mr Rabain added: “The days of using education as a tool for political strikes are over – they are dead.”

He said: “These conversations will start in earnest this month.”

Jarion Richardson, a new OBA MP, said the Throne Speech raised “too many uncertainties” in constitutional reform, changes to banking law, and immigration.

He added that “we keep going over the same things over and over again”.

Michael Weeks, a PLP backbencher, said the Government was “committed to righting some of the wrongs of the past”.

He highlighted plans to introduce a living wage and proposed changes to the financial assistance programme.

Mr Weeks also praised the “bold step” of a proposal to deliver unemployment insurance to workers.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the public works minister, said a proposal for a marina in St George had been approved in principle.

Colonel Burch added his ministry was examining ways to provide jobs through public works as a way of “employing folk as opposed to just handing out unemployment benefits”.

He said: “I view what we are going through now and experiencing as serious business – so much so that we must be preaching to our folk that things are not like they used to be, and are not going to be that way ever again.“

Jamahl Simmons, a PLP backbencher, said more work was needed to complete “the breaking down of the two Bermudas” as he praised the Throne Speech’s national policy on youth.

He said some young voters had not bothered to turn out for the General Election – but that the PLP’s 30-seat win meant voters wanted to see change delivered.

He added the reintroduction of the National Youth Council and the job corps programme would help to prioritise young people.

Mr Simmons also asked for a redesign of the Senate “in its current structure”.

He said there should no longer be “people who sit in the other place, appointed by a man from another place”.