-- and dealt a hammer blow to the campaign for a special policy for long-term non-Bermudian residents.

The Hon. Irving Pearman said 950 people overnight would receive status if the door was thrown open to residents of more than 20 years.

"The numbers would be quite staggering. I see no justification for a special category,'' he said.

Mr. Pearman poured scorn on calls for special treatment for long-term residents by the National Liberal Party.

He also robustly rejected attacks on the immigration policy by the Progressive Labour Party.

Mr. Pearman, speaking at a press conference, described the stances taken by the other parties as "ill-thought out.'' "For years we have been told we have not been doing enough to protect Bermudians. Now we are told we have not been doing enough to protect non-Bermudians. We simply cannot have it both ways,'' he said.

Mr. Pearman played down the recent storm of protest from the Portuguese community.

This community did not represent the largest group of work permit holders, despite the strength of their outcry, he said.

"The current rhetoric is about a few people, not the majority. The fact of the matter is that Bermuda is a very small place. All of us realise we cannot absorb everyone who has the desire to stay here for good.

"We must have rules, we must have limits, and to be fair, those rules and limits must apply to everyone equally.'' Mr. Pearman said Government's immigration policies were successful.

They were putting Bermudians first -- highlighted by the dramatic reduction in work permit holders over the last three years.

In December 1989, there were 10,400 contract workers, claimed Mr. Pearman. By May 1991, the statistic had slumped to 7,500, and the most up-to-date figure was around 5,500.

More and more Bermudians were becoming qualified for jobs formerly held by expatriates, he said, adding more non-Bermudians were leaving the Island before their contracts expired.

The recession too was having an effect -- fewer employers were applying for work permit extensions as businesses were down-sized, said Mr. Pearman. "Our policies are working, and I see no reason to change.'' Mr. Pearman defended Government's historic approach to immigration -- recently blasted by Opposition deputy leader Mr. Walter Roberts.

In 1979, Government offered an amnesty to the Portuguese in Bermuda, at the urging of the Pitt Commission.

Some 112 people took advantage of the amnesty -- but by the spring of 1980 only 23 had actually applied for naturalisation and status.

"That is a surprisingly small number, and we at immigration are at a loss to explain why,'' he said.

In 1988, following an amnesty for long-term resident children of any nationality, 61 applications for status were approved.

In 1989, an amendment to the Immigration Act led to 93 grants of status to long-term resident children.

Fifty-three went to people of Portuguese descent, said Mr. Pearman.

"It is quite evident that the Government has done a great deal to consider the situation of long-term non-Bermudian residents.

"However, we must always remember that our major concern has and will continue to be the protection of Bermudians.''