The Progressive Labour Party has dismissed claims it is spreading “reckless, unpatriotic and potentially destructive” information about Government policies abroad, insisting that its concerns are genuine.

And Shadow Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban has once again called into question Government proposals to debate the possibility of introducing Commercial Immigration.

The row erupted last week after Junior Home Affairs Minister Sylvan Richards pointed out that several Opposition politicians — including Mr Roban and Senators Marc Daniels and Diallo Rabain — had made highly critical remarks about the Government to the Caribbean News Now website.

In one article on Commercial Immigration, Mr Roban was quoted as saying: “The OBA Government is seeking to gerrymander the electoral process by possibly selling status to persons who will in turn vote for them in the next election.”

Mr Richards last week condemned that and similar criticisms, saying: “Unbelievable. With Bermudians like these, who needs enemies?”

But yesterday Mr Roban hit back, saying that Commercial Immigration posed a number of risks, including increased housing costs, jeopardising visa-free travel and giving away the right to vote to non-Bermudians.

“The list of risks he [Sylvan Richards] is referring to came directly from OBA’s Commercial Immigration presentation,” Mr Roban said.

Referring to Mr Richards’ suggestion that “every action in life has a certain amount of risk”, Mr Roban said: “The risks of selling Bermudian status do not equate to the risk of driving a car, or flying, unless of course one is involved in the Jetgate club.

“Until the terms and conditions of Commercial Immigration are revealed, no one can say what will or will not happen.

“The parameters of Commercial Immigration can encompass any range of possibilities including, putting commercial immigrants on a higher footing then PRCs.

“Once a person is granted citizenship, they have all the same rights as Bermudians — the right to purchase property, the right to gainful employment and the right to participate in elections and or referendums.

“MP Richards fails to mention that currently nearly 40 percent of our residential land is for sale to non-Bermudians. He is clearly contradicting the meaning of citizenship as outlined by OBA’s own immigration expert who specifically stated that citizenship includes the right to vote.

“In addition, he clouds over the fact that Senator Fahy stated that granting status, has not been ruled out.

“In fact, Sen Fahy explained the UK’s role in the process of granting citizenship at this presentation.

“With their track record of multiple broken promises, including recent revelations of the OBA planning since January, 2013 to ditch the referendum, what can Bermudians believe about the OBA government’s true intentions?

“Fellow Bermudians, it is irresponsible for the OBA to be discussing commercial immigration, without first establishing a national sustainability plan to protect and manage our very limited resources of Bermudian land and jobs.”