Friday.

Mr. Pearman told the House of Assembly he planned to introduce amendments to the Immigration Protection Act 1956 in early May.

Under the present law, non-Bermudian spouses do not have the same rights in the job market as Bermudians until they have been married for five years.

Then, they can receive a spousal rights certificate.

Government had seen "the strain that this puts on families,'' and wanted to "strengthen the family unit,'' Mr. Pearman said.

The amendments would also deal with people who "think they are Bermudians, and have spent all of their lives here,'' but were not technically deemed Bermudian because the domicile of a parent was another country.

He did not know how many people would be added to the Register of Bermudians as a result of the amendments.

Government was not planning to reintroduce the discretionary granting of Bermudian status to those who had lived in Bermuda for many years, Mr. Pearman told The Royal Gazette .

Only those with close Bermudian family ties would be eligible.

Mr. Pearman revealed the Government plans during the Motion to Adjourn, after concerns were raised by Progressive Labour Party MP Ms Renee Webb.

"Bermudians are being discriminated against because they are married to non-Bermudians,'' Ms Webb said. "I have a real problem with that.'' For most families, two incomes were required to live in Bermuda, she said.

Some families had to move elsewhere when the non-Bermudian spouse could not find work.

Both Ms Webb and Mr. Pearman noted that because large numbers of Bermudians were educated abroad, it was natural for them to fall in love with and marry non-Bermudians.