granting status, the House of Assembly heard yesterday.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness was speaking as he put a Green Paper on the issue up for discussion.

Mr. Edness said: "The Green Paper gave a series of possible solutions to a set of perceived problems.

"Naturally in responding to the Green Paper, people tended to choose a single solution which would solve their problems.

"Not surprisingly, the great majority of non-Bermudian respondents opted for the granting of Bermudian status.

"However, in giving their reasons for choosing Bermudian status, only two respondents cited the right to vote in General Elections as the attraction of Bermuda status.'' And Mr. Edness added that the search for long-term security did not necessarily need status.

He said: "A combination of options other than Bermudian status would not only satisfy the most pressing needs of long-term residents but could also go a long way to reassuring Bermudians that their birthright was being protected for themselves and their children.'' Mr. Edness said that non-Bermudian residents of 20 or more years standing wanted job security and security of residence after retiring.

He added they also sought to provide a future for their children, who know Bermuda as their only home, the right to own land and for their children to inherit their property.

Mr. Edness said Bermudians who responded during a consultation period on the Green Paper feared for their futures if the Island was swamped by foreigners and their children.

He added: "From the responses, it would appear that everyone is agreed that something should be done to relieve long-term residents' deep sense of insecurity.

"On the other hand, there is concern among both Bermudians and many non-Bermudians, who have clearly thought things through, that the granting of Bermudian status to all long-term residents is likely to have long-term negative effects on the Country.

"Bermudians are concerned for their children and their children's children whom they see as having to compete for jobs and housing.'' Mr. Edness said the right to vote was "the most important democratic right'' attached to Bermudian status, although that did not appear to be a priority.

He added that -- among non-Bermudians approaching retirement -- there was "considerable hardship'' expressed because they could not buy affordable housing, which Bermudians can do.

And Mr. Edness said that both non-Bermudians and Bermudians appeared to be concerned over split families, which includes a divorced non-Bermudian formerly married to a Bermudian who has Bermudian children and families, who, because of changes in the law could have a child who was Bermudian and another who was not.

He praised yesterday's editorial in The Royal Gazette and urged the public to read it as it set out the arguments well.

Mr. Edness told the House there had been more than 378 responses to the Green Paper, with 62 percent of them coming from non-Bermudians.

And nearly 95 percent of the total -- Bermudian and non-Bermudian -- appeared to suggest the status quo was not an option and supported some form of change.

A total of 64 percent of respondents backed the option to back status -- although Mr. Edness said the reasons behind their request could be addressed by measures short of status, for example, Working Residents' Cards, similar to the US Green Card system.

Mr. Edness stressed: "Up until now, we have no hard and fast idea of what we are going to do. We are beginning to plan towards things, but we would not make a decision until we hear what is said in the House.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said the Opposition was also concerned for long-term residents.

But he added: "Equally, one has to be concerned about the impact of what we do on the Bermudian.'' He admitted: "It's not a popular issue -- it's an issue which brings passions to the surface. It's something which touches on the Bermudian and non-Bermudian.'' And Mr. Scott said that the whole issue "revolved around employment'' because the ability to work affected both Islanders and incomers.

He backed a Green Card-style scheme, saying his party had suggested that several years ago.

Mr. Scott said: "We feel this would provide security of tenure to long-term residents in Bermuda -- similar to the Green Card scheme in the US.'' But he called for a "strictly enforced moratorium on all grants of Bermuda status until Bermuda decides on its future.'' He said figures showed that Bermudians were lagging behind non-Bermudians in a growing job market. He added that statistically, top jobs were overwhelmingly bagged by non-Bermudians.

Mr. Scott said the largest group of non-Bermudian residents came from the UK, followed by the US, with Canada then Jamaica some way behind in numbers.

He added: "Bermudians want us to be acutely aware of these points. As we said in our preamble `consider me and consider me first'.'' Mr. Scott said that proposals to waive mandatory three-year advertising effectively "took jobs out of the job bank.'' He added that all jobs when left by a non-Bermudian should be advertised to give Bermudians opportunities.

And he said it was in the best long-term interests of business to look at a training programme set up with Government to bring on Bermudian talent.

And he called for a sliding scale of work permit fees, based on the availability of qualified Bermudians, with scarce skills having a freeze on fees, but with increases where Bermudians were judged to be on the job market.

Mr. Scott said: "You are turning the employers' incentives in the direction of the available talent we have in Bermuda. Then Bermudians don't feel threatened by relaxation of the privileges in relation to the long-term resident.'' He added: "We have talked to the employers... they have said `bring to us capable Bermudians, if necessary we will provide scholarships.'' Mr. Scott said: "Bermudians don't fear long-term residents, Bermudians don't dislike long-term residents -- but there are real concerns about the impact this has on the workplace.

"You talk about status, you talk about abandoning the three-year advertising policy -- you can't, you can't abandon these protections too easily.'' And he accused Mr. Edness of taking a PLP-suggested solution and turning it into a problem.

Mr. Scott said: "Nobody can take a silk purse and turn it into a sow's ear better than the Minister.'' He said the US picked outsiders on the basis of what they could do to boost the US economy.

Mr. Scott added the PLP favoured flexibility in order to attract the best talent from overseas.

And he said the PLP "would not turn their backs'' on people in split families, although he said he "stopped short'' of recommending status for each and every one.

Mr. Scott denied his party favoured a blanket limit of three year work permits. He said he recognised that there were "key men and key women'' who were vital to the economy -- but added that "not everybody required that kind of flexibility.'' He added that the PLP had also called for an independent Ombudsman to be appointed to settle work permit problems.

Mr. Scott added: "If we wish Bermudians to continue to be the good host, the good neighbour and the good citizen then we must make sure that we protect our brothers and sisters in the appropriate way.

"We feel that we can serve both communities -- the long-term residents and the Bermudians.

"But we must not revert to a situation where we no longer require the three-yearly advertising of jobs.

"We must also continue with immigration monitoring. If there is a slip between the cup and the lip, we may rue the day that we choose the wrong path.'' Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Clarence Terceira spoke of "the need to be fair'' to long-term residents who no longer know their home countries and whose children were born and brought up in Bermuda.

He said: "For a small country of 21 square miles, we have the infrastructure of a big country.

"We have the airport, sea ports, international business and tourism. Can Bermudians provide all the top people for these jobs which require the highest academic standards? "No we can't. We need non-Bermudians in this country, so the country can be run as successfully as it has been under the UBP Government.'' Dr. Terceira, of Portuguese descent, said: "I'm very proud of my heritage but I have always said that I am a Bermudian first.

"The PLP proposes a Green Card but that would only make long-term residents feel like second-class citizens.'' He said long-term residents should be granted status and the PLP's Green Card idea for non-Bermudians who had lived on the Island for more than 20 years was "disgusting''.

Referring to Nazi Germany, Dr. Terceira added: "It almost reminds me of the triangle that certain ethnic groups once had to wear.'' Opposition House Leader Reginald Burrows said: "Bermuda is a very small country and this is where the problem arises.

"We have to make sure that we can provide living space and jobs for future generations of Bermuda.

"If we continue to allow this trend to occur, we are going to have very serious problems down the road.'' Mr. Burrows said residents who wanted status should have taken advantage of amnesties in previous years.

Government whip Rick Spurling said the Green Paper raised a dilemma and gave MPs the chance to reveal their personal thoughts.

But he said the PLP's proposal for Green Cards was "window dressing'' and status should be allowed -- but only on a limited basis.

Mr. Spurling said: "There are more jobs than Bermudians. Out of 34,633 jobs, 26,885 are taken by Bermudians.

"That means 7,748 are taken by non-Bermudians. Registered unemployment is around one percent so there are still many jobs we need to fill from abroad.

"We are committed to growing this economy and creating jobs rather than just preserving jobs.

"Non-Bermudians working in this economy are essential -- essential building blocks and essential ingredients which we need in this competitive world.'' Veteran PLP MP Walter Roberts said the economy had become "overheated'' and provided a healthy lifestyle for both Bermudians and ex-patriates.

But he said foreigners should only be employed on fixed-term contracts so they knew they would have to return home by a given date.

Mr. Roberts added: "I don't blame them for coming here. Bermuda is a great place where they can get great jobs and make hay while they can.

"But we needn't have overheated the economy in the way we have done.'' Transport Minister Wayne Furbert criticised the PLP for ruling out status for long-term residents, saying: "Every country in the world has provided some foreign residents with a full-time right of abode.'' But he was attacked by Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen , who said: "We believe in protecting the birthright of Bermudians.

"Bermudians only have 21 precious square miles on the whole face of this planet that we can call our own.

"We stand together and we sink or swim together. The PLP believes long-term residents should get security of tenure but we don't believe we should give up the shop.'' Mr. Allen moved to shoot down claims that overseas companies might flee Bermuda's shores if Government protected its people's birthright.

"Too much of this scare-mongering is going on,'' he blasted.

People were being encouraged to give up their birthright when they should be protecting it.

"Until Bermudians feel secure we will never have the social and economic stability needed to attract international business.'' Mr. Allen backed the PLP idea of a Green Card for long-term residents and slammed the UBP for being inconsistent and unfair.

John Barritt (UBP) said the problem MPs were facing had two issues. The first concerned people who came to Bermuda before 1989 and the other concerned people who came to the Island after this date which was when applications for status were abolished.

He said he did not think the PLP's Green Card idea would address this historical problem and might create problems instead.

"I wonder if this is not just a glorified work permit.'' He backed the idea of a working residents card which would give some rights and provide security. These would go to the people who had been in Bermuda before 1989 first while others who had come after this year might be eligible at a later time.

The other option he "embraced'' was that of an amnesty which would allow anyone to apply for status. The only problem with this idea, noted Mr.

Barritt, was that it might allow the number of foreign residents to build up again which would put Bermuda back in the same position it was in now.

Works, Engineering and Housing Shadow Minister Stanley Morton said Parliamentarians had to consider all the facets and cultures which made up the community.

He backed the PLP idea of a Green Card and warned that Bermuda had to prevent this situation recurring again over the years.

Mr. Morton also questioned why a large number of foreigners were being brought in to the Island to fill unskilled work positions which could be filled by Bermudians.

Was enough thought been given to the idea of training Bermudians to fill these jobs, he asked.

"We must be conscientious in making sure that training is available to give our people the help they need to develop to fit the needs of the community.'' Parliamentary Secretary for Women's Issues and Community and Cultural Affairs Grace Bell said she was torn between having sympathy for people who had been in Bermuda for over 20 years and having sympathy for the upcoming generations of Bermudians.

Bermuda needed people to come in and assist its economy but it also had young people studying overseas who expected to come back and work in their Country.

"We cannot expect our own people to become migrants,'' she stressed.

She said she thought a resident card "might be the way to go'' but also expressed concern about a similar situation happening again in the future.

Continued in Monday's paper