Freedom to apply for jobs without restrictions Freedom to live in Bermuda after retirement A new deal for long-term residents was yesterday announced by Labour and Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess.

And -- in a stop gap measure before a White Paper is tabled -- an estimated 1,200 people of 20 years' standing will win the right to live permanently in Bermuda and to be employed without the restriction of a work permit.

But Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said the new plan provided no security for Bermudians.

And he warned any future Progressive Labour Government would change the rules to protect born Islanders.

And Mr. Scott added that he saw the whole issue would figure high on the agenda in any General Election campaign.

Mr. Burgess told MPs that the complex nature of the issue meant that the White Paper scheduled to be tabled on the issue could not be tabled in the House session which ended yesterday.

But he said: "I know the further uncertainty that a delay creates for our long-term residents.

"This continuing uncertainty would be intolerable to this Government.

"It would also be intolerable to those good-hearted and welcoming Bermudians who recognise the need to accommodate people who have stuck by us through thick and thin for over 20 years.'' He added: "I believe that this interim measure is the right and responsible thing for this Government to do.

"It will quickly provide those eligible with some security and the peace of mind they deserve until the White Paper is presented to this House in the fall.'' Mr. Burgess added: "It will give us the time to ensure a thorough and complete White Paper that provides Bermudians with the balance and fairness they deserve.'' Mr. Burgess' deal allows non-Bermudians who have clocked up 20 years or more on the Island and who have worked for a total of 15 years to apply for a Working Residents' Certificate.

The certificate allows holders to make an application for indefinite permission to work without having to go through an employer.

Eligible people will also be able to apply for jobs without restrictions.

In addition, holders will be able to retire from work and live in Bermuda without special permission from the Department of Immigration. But successful applicants must show "good character and conduct'' and register each year with Immigration officers, inform the Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety if their employment ends and seek the Minister's permission to take up another job with a different employer. Mr. Burgess added that certificate holders will not be able to vote and there is no mention of being able to buy property on an equal footing with Bermudians.

But Mr. Scott said the move "was a little more serious than a stop gap measure.'' Govt. unveils new deal for long-term residents He added: "What the Government has elected to do is bypass Parliament in the execution of a major initiative.'' And he said Government had had years to address the problem and he saw no reason for further delays.

Mr. Scott said: "It has to be seen as an attempt -- because it has failed -- in getting the UBP Government off the hot spot of not doing anything about the plight of the long term residents.'' Mr. Scott added that the long-term resident problem would not go away if work permits were renewed "time after time.'' He said the PLP policy was legal controls to prevent work permits being renewed so frequently allied to a US "green card'' scheme.

Mr. Scott added that Mr. Burgess' plans incorporated elements of the PLP's plans to ease the plight of long-term residents.

But he insisted what was needed was an understudy programme "wherever practicable'' so Bermudians could be taught by overseas workers to do the job in question.

And he also called for training programmes to allow more Bermudians to take jobs in careers like hotels and international business.

Mr. Scott added: "There should be no moves towards extending the rights of of long-term residents and missing out the rights of Bermudians.'' But he said any future PLP Government would address the issues involved "very quickly.'' He said: "We will go the green card route and put things in place to safeguard the Bermudian.'' But last night Anna Faria of the Portuguese Bermudian Association welcomed any "concrete plans'' being put forward.

She said: "I'm sure I speak for a great number of people when I say that it is a huge relief to finally have something concrete put forward as a resolution for the plight of long-term residents.

"This will be very comforting to many individuals whose greatest concern is job security.'' But she added it was "disconcerting'' the timetable for a White Paper had been pushed back to the autumn session.

And she said: "We hope the remaining issues will be dealt with swiftly as are so many concerns which have still not been answered by this announcement.'' Maxwell Burgess