To the Portuguese people of Bermuda from the Coalition on Long Term Residents The Coalition on Long Term Residents is saddened to learn of Portuguese families who, because of the abuse directed at the Portuguese during the course of the Government-sponsored public forums on Long Term Residents, have decided to leave Bermuda.

Many Bermudians, black and white, PLP and non-PLP, have expressed their shock and horror at the vitriol and abuse that was directed at Long Term Residents generally and the Portuguese people specifically during the course of these meetings.

The Minister herself expressed pleasure with respect to the conduct and outcome of these meetings. The general posture of the Government was that the forums provided a healthy opportunity for Bermudians to vent their anger.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 16, 1966 gives everyone "the right to freedom of expression''.

However, the right to this freedom carries with it special duties and responsibilities which include "respect of the rights or reputations of others.'' The Covenant goes on to state that "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.'' The (Bermuda) Government, by sponsoring these forums, became responsible for the conduct of these meetings. To the extent that the rights or reputations of others were violated and to the extent that vitriol was directed toward any individual or groups of people on the basis of race or ethnicity, Government generally and the Minister specifically abrogated its and her responsibilities under this Covenant.

The basis of the Government's position as outlined very emotionally by the Minister is that there exists "two Bermudas'', the implication being that these two Bermudas represent the "haves'' and the "have nots'' and that the existence of Long Term Residents somehow reinforces this dichotomy.

However, Government's own Green Paper shows that more than 50 percent of Long Term Residents are either blue collar or lower-level white collar workers, compensated at the lower end of Bermuda's payscale.

The Minister, although supporting the notion of inalienable rights, proposes a new construct for "two Bermudas'' which denies political rights to Long Term Residents of 20, 30, and 40 years, irrespective of their contribution to the community and irrespective of the fact that many have Bermudian children and grandchildren.

The Coalition's view is that the duality of the Minister's proposal denies "the inherent dignity and... the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family (which) is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world'' as articulated by the United Nations' Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Coalition concurs with the Minister's first notion that there should not be two Bermudas. It perplexes us the Minister then contradicts herself by proposing a Bermuda with a hierarchy of rights.

By imposing such duality onto Bermudian society, born Bermudians with parents or grandparents, who have never been granted the economic rights of owning property or owning their own businesses, are themselves economically handicapped and are perpetually relegated to the position of always starting from behind relative to other Bermudians.

A prime example of the injustice of such duality is the financing of the education of the Bermudian children of Long Term Residents. Many Bermudians may be unaware that until these children reach the age of 18 and are formally granted Bermuda status, they are ineligible to acquire scholarships.

This may not be a problem for the Bermudian children of expatriate workers in the international business sector but it is a problem for the 50 percent plus blue collar and lower-level white collar workers who earn a living at the lower-earning end of Bermuda's employment spectrum.

Not only are these children of working class families unable to receive scholarships, but by virtue of having not yet been granted Bermuda status they are denied the right to gain employment so they may somehow finance their education.

These are the people that will continue to suffer in the new Bermuda which the Minister proposes.

Information trickling back to the Coalition from the recently-held Progressive Labour Party conference indicates the Government will hold firm in its position of not granting citizenship to Long Term Residents, irrespective of their length of tenure in the community and irrespective of whether they have Bermudian children and grandchildren.

The reason given is that the great majority of Long Term Residents are white and that the Government surmises that such individuals are not likely to support its move toward independence.

The discrimination inherent in the Government's position greatly saddens the Coalition. Government should consider during the course of fulfilling its political agenda, including its march toward independence, that a country divided is no country at all. History has shown that the politics of exclusion is ultimately the politics of failure.

We of the Coalition sympathise with the Portuguese Long Term Residents who have decided to leave. We say to them, in no way do you deserve the abuse that has been directed toward you.

The great majority of Portuguese residents are warm and generous people -- like Manuel and Fernanda Pacheco who for several weeks around Christmas opened their modest home to everyone in the community to view their nativity and Christmas scenes.

As if this was not generous enough, the Pachecos then offered their guests traditional Azorean delicacies to sample.

Although from where you stand today as Long Term Residents, the outlook appears grim. The Coalition wishes to remind all Long Term Residents of the progress that has been made to date: The great majority of Bermudians acknowledge that the position in which Long Term Residents have been placed is unfair and that something must be done about it.

A poll conducted by PLP-stalwart Walton Brown's firm shows that more than half of Bermudians polled agree that Long Term Residents should be given citizenship rights.

Bishops of Bermuda's three largest religions -- the Anglicans, the Roman Catholics, and the AME's -- agree that rights should be granted to alleviate the hardships imposed on Long Term Residents. Leaders of other religious groups have also expressed concern.

We have been advised the British Government is looking very closely at how the Bermuda Government deals with its Long Term Residents and that any move to independence must coincide with the granting of citizenship to these people.

The Coalition is greatly encouraged that, although from the perspective of the ruling Progressive Labour Party this may be a black/white issue, it is not viewed as such by the Community at large. Otherwise Walton Brown's poll would not have shown that more than 50 percent of those polled favoured granting Long Term Resident's citizenship.

It is the Coalition's wish that Portuguese Long Term Residents not withdraw and that all Long Term Residents of whatever nationality draw hope and encouragement from the progress that has been made thus far.

The Coalition wishes to inform you that, as a result of the Minister not agreeing to meet with us, we have decided that we must formalise the Coalition's organisation as follows: Establish the Coaliton as a legal entity; raise money to fund the operating expenses of the Coalition; meet with the Governor and Baroness Scotland to raise concerns regarding Government's handling of the Long Term Resident issue; lobby governments who have a vested concern with respect to the treatment of Bermuda's Long Term Residents; build support for Long Term Residents within the local community; secure legal representation should the matter require attention in the courts, both here and in the United Kingdom Irrespective of the time and energy which members of the Coalition may devote, the campaign will not be successful without the physical and financial support of sympathetic Bermudians as well as the Long Term Residents themselves.

Although the fund raising campaign has not begun, financial contributions have already been made which is another reason why the Coalition's organisational structure must be formalised.

Although we are not yet ready to solicit funds from the public, we can take the names and addresses of those willing to give financial and physical support to the Coalition. Letters of support may be directed to the following address: The Coalition on Long Term Residents Suite 1101 48 Par la Ville Road Hamilton HM 11 Those wishing their donations to be directed specifically to the Coalition's legal fund may send these directly to: The Coalition on Long Term Residents c/o Moniz George & La Vigne 18 Reid Street Hamilton HM 11 Please enclose name, address or email should you wish acknowledgement of your donation.

In closing, the Coalition would like to encourage all Long Term Residents not to lose heart and not to withdraw, but rather to stand firm.

We say, maintain your position as an integral part of this community. Do not assume that the colour of someone's skin determines the structure of their conscience. Remember that no one will judge you by how you are treated but rather how you treat others.

Irrespective of the abuse you may endure, approach everyone in your day to day dealings with faith, hope, and charity. Then the battle will be won in the hearts and minds of morally-conscious Bermudians.