POLITICIAN and lawyer Trevor Moniz has been honoured by the state of Portugal for his services to the Portuguese community in Bermuda.

Mr. Moniz has been awarded the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, at the Rank of Knight Commander, Portuguese vice-consul Maria Berta Machado announced yesterday.

Although others in Bermuda have been honoured by Portugal, Mr. Moniz is the first to receive this particular award.

Yesterday Mr. Moniz said he felt humbled to receive the award and that it would help to spur him on in his fight for the rights of long-term residents.

The citation from the vice-consul reads: "This award has been granted in appreciation for his perseverance and commitment to the improvement of the circumstances of Portuguese in Bermuda, in facilitating their integration in the host country, for his role in promoting the Portuguese community, its cultural tradition and its contribution to the Bermudian culture, and more generally for his action in achieving a better understanding of Portugal, its people, history and values."

Mr. Moniz said yesterday: "I'm greatly honoured. It does make one feel humble, particularly being a political outcast for almost three years from my own party, it's nice to receive some recognition."

Mr. Moniz was ousted from the United Bermuda Party's parliamentary group in January this year after a vote of the UBP Parliamentary Caucus and now sits as an independent MP for Smith's South.

He had originally been suspended in October, 1999, for "his failure to attend and participate in regular meetings of Caucus and sittings of the House of Assembly", according to a UBP statement at the time.

The timing of the award would act as an encouragement, with the Long-Term Residents Bill having been tabled and due to be debated, possibly today, added Mr. Moniz.

"It will spur me on to continue the fight for human rights," he said.

"But in fighting for long-term residents' rights, there has been something of a rainbow coalition. All sorts of people have been involved, like the AME Church, the West Indian Association and people like Robert Pires."

Mr. Moniz, a Bermudian with Portuguese roots, has represented the Portuguese in his capacity as a lawyer for more than two decades.

"I have a fairly substantial immigration practice and I have represented Portuguese nationals for the last 22 years," said Mr. Moniz. "I've had many dealings with the Government concerning things like immigration and Bermudian status."

Mr. Moniz also helped to establish the Azores room at the Bermuda Maritime Museum.