A Government backbencher is urging the Cabinet not to shy away from a potential vote-losing issue in the run up to a General Election.

And Smith's South MP Trevor Moniz claims that an underclass of second class citizens could be created unless the question of long-term resident status is dealt with as soon as possible.

Mr. Moniz made his remarks following reports that a group of political activists is petitioning to have a referendum on the issue.

The group hopes to stall plans by Government to introduce a White Paper recommending amendments to the current legislation at the next session of Parliament.

"My main concern is delay,'' Mr. Moniz said.

"This issue has been out there for the past five years and to do something that will just delay it further just doesn't make any sense.

"The public has been well canvassed and every attempt has been made to gauge their opinion -- what more can we do? "You reach the point where there are certain legal and moral obligations which have certainly been recognised by the Government. I am confident that the Government will come up with some concrete proposals but government is all about leadership and it's time for the Government to come to the wicket on this issue.

"To give them credit they have dealt with a lot of the peripheral issues of long-term residents such as the status of spouses of Bermudians.

"But this issue has been a political thorn and it's about time that thorn was grasped.

"Clearly there will be proposals which could range from full citizenship to some sort of security in terms of employment or residence but far be it for me to guess what Government is going to put forward.

"I am against creating second class citizens where you have a body of people who have some rights but not all rights. That is legally and morally undesirable.

"I have had several discussions, both in public and private, with Mr. Edness and he is fully aware of my views.

"In my view it would have been better to deal with this issue earlier on because a lot of the fears about it are unjustified. As one moves closer to an election people become more nervous about political outcomes. You become more sensitised whereas just after an election you have another five years before you face the music.

"But if we do something sensible about it there will be no dislocation in our community because the long-term residents are already here -- they already have jobs and their children are already in our schools so there's not going to be any sudden dislocation.'' In yesterday's Royal Gazette , Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness confirmed that amendments in legislation will be going through Parliament at the next session.

But he refused to reveal how drastic any changes in the law would be.

See Editorial, Page 4