End passport confusion

September 29, 2007

Dear Sir,

Obviously, I haven't been paying attention. Am I the only person unaware of the current policy regarding the issuance of Bermuda passports?

Yesterday, I braced myself for a visit to the Department of Immigration, following a failed attempt the previous day to even get beyond the queue outside the door.

Arriving at 10.05 a.m., I patiently waited, watching one frustrasted expat leave the department in tears, with her distraught husband attempting to "keep his cool" with the Immigration Department Clerk.

I finally arrived at the desk at 11 a.m. (which I thought was quite good considering I was number 100 when I arrived and they were at number 60 something – a lot of people had disappeared).

After saying 'Good Morning', I presented my Application Form to the Immigration Clerk, whereupon I was told, unceremoniously, that despite having lived in Bermuda since 1969, having been granted Bermuda Status in 1984, being the parent of two born Bermudian children and having '"Holder is Registered as a Bermudian" stamped on page 4, that I was unable to apply for a Bermudian passport.

I was told that I had to apply for a British passport, an exercise which would cost $250 plus the Bermuda Government Forwarding Fee of $88.

I was also told that if I wanted to apply for a Bermuda passport that I would have to complete and submit a Naturalisation Form, a process that could take up to six months. (I guess I erroneously assumed having been granted Bermudian Status that I would be considered 'naturalised'.)

This is despite the fact that the form headed Application for British Passport (Bermuda) for a person over 16 issued by the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety categorically states that British passports (Bermuda) are issued to British citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British Dependent Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons.

I have to admit that I am confused. I have been travelling on a Government of Bermuda issued passport for 20 years.

I was under the impression that only non-British persons, seeking Bermuda status, had to be naturalised.

I haven't decided if this is an ominous sign, and that once the Brown Government takes Bermuda independent, that those of us who are not in possession of a Bermuda passport will suffer repercussions or if there is another perfectly innocent explanation.

Anyhow, for those of you with Bermuda Status travelling on a Government of Bermuda issued passport, check whether under nationality you are 'British Citizen' or a 'British Overseas Territories Citizen' because if you are a 'British Citizen' my understanding is that you will not be able to apply for a Bermuda passport without applying for Naturalisation.

VOTER

(but may be not for much longer!)

Hamilton Parish

Inconsiderate drivers

October 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

As a regular user of the Paget Ferry I have often had fellow passengers suggest that we need a cross-walk on Harbour Road at the junction of Chapel Road. I've always said: "Not sure we need it. Eventually someone stops to let us cross the road."

Yesterday evening, in torrential rain, over 25 cars from both directions must have passed us by, spraying water all over us, without an inkling of movement to slow down and let us cross the road. We were dumbfounded! We pretty well had to stand in the middle of the road before someone would stop.

If you were one of those drivers, thank you for being so inconsiderate. It seems a great shame that there's been such a great change in the courtesy of Bermuda motorists over recent years. I never thought I'd see the day that driving courtesy would stoop to such a low level.

Paget Ferry Pedestrian