Now is the time for Government to go on the attack regarding marriages of convenience, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess said yesterday.

"Marriages of convenience", where a non-Bermudian marries a Bermudian in order to help gain status or employment, are not uncommon, he said.

"Government should make the fines so high they are able to take the money and plow it back into opportunities for employment for younger people going forward," he said.

However, Government should be just as adamant about leaving legitimate marriages alone, he said.

If the court system is satisfied a couple is married for legitimate reasons, Government must ignore whatever gut feeling it has and "a work permit should soon follow", he said.

Mr. Burgess also raised the question of children of non-Bermudians who are born on the Island.

Non-Bermudians may be allowed to move to the Island with a spouse and two children. However, he questioned to what extent the birth of more children is policed, and whether it was a concern at all.

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Randy Horton pointed out that once such families are on the Island, it would be in contravention of human rights to tell them they cannot have more children, or they will be forced to leave.

As for marriages of convenience, they are not legally defined, he said ? meaning that a fine cannot be set for them.