privileges of locals in the workforce as the dramatic effects of the recession cause them to lose their jobs to Bermudians.

In an open letter which appeared in The Royal Gazette yesterday, the nationals said that many who have spent 15 or more years on the Island are not having their work permits renewed so that jobs might become available to Bermudians.

Signed "Portuguese Bermudian and Proud!'', the letter noted that the Portuguese were brought to Bermuda in the early 1920s to help swell the ranks of the manual workforce. However, with today's economic difficulties, the Portuguese have been cast aside with "entire families threatened with deportation to a `home land' they never knew as children or adults!'' The plight was yesterday argued by adopted United Bermuda Party candidate for Smith's South, Mr. Trevor Moniz.

He said that under the policy, employers must advertise positions to ensure there are no available Bermudians before work permits are renewed. Problems may arise with jobs where the employer decides to end the position rather than go through the trouble of rehiring.

"They say it simply would not be worth it because a huge number of Bermudians will apply who are not suitable for the post and not interested in staying with the job in the long run,'' said Mr. Moniz, who is a lawyer.

"It's a net loss to the Bermuda work force. No Bermudian gets a job, the economy loses out and it's a very great hardship caused to long term residents who have been here for over 15 years and have children who were born here.

Nobody wins.

"I know that various people have approached the Minister and I have talked it over with him. The Department of Immigration is being too severe in applying its policy. These are tough economic times and of course the rule is that Bermudians come first, but the policy is too rigorously applied. I think Government should have a special policy with reference to long term residents who have a substantial connection to Bermuda and have adopted Bermuda as their permanent home.'' Although the Portuguese are not the only ones affected by the policy, Mr.

Moniz said they comprise the largest single group.

He said that Portuguese nationals faced two disadvantages in obtaining Bermuda Status in earlier days -- they were not fluent in English and they were not British nationals.

Although they are no longer required to be British nationals, he said, they must speak English.

"In many cases, the older people obviously didn't know the rules, that there was a moratorium on time. A lot of them were functionally illiterate in their own language. How could they know English? They couldn't read the paper. They came here for a better life and worked incredibly hard. No one could have given better service.'' And in yesterday's letter, the nationals echoed this thought: "This is not the first time a country has to face the need for a revised immigration policy! ... We must judge each case on an individual basis, where the actions of the past have created the present situation ... please Bermuda, honour the moral commitment of the past to the people who helped build this Island. If one was illiterate or not informed enough to fill out the correct form 20 years ago, should entire families now be victimised?'' Mr. Moniz said the only recourse offered to persons is appealing the decision or asking the Minister to review the case.

"I get at least one case a week,'' he said. "One involved someone who had been here for 25 years and was told they can no longer live in Bermuda.

"In many cases it's the expense and time involved for people (in fighting the decision). I was dealing with an English and a German national who were sitting here and not working for over six months waiting to get a permit.

These people have been here for 25 years and want to stay but they're being made to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops.'' Minister of Labour and Home Affairs the Hon. John Irving Pearman said yesterday the matter was under consideration.