Government is refusing to reveal how many Permanent Resident Certificate holders have applied for status since a controversial court ruling five months ago made them eligible for Bermuda passports.

In May Chief Justice Ian Kawaley ruled that, because of a previously overlooked clause in immigration laws, PRC holders — foreign nationals who had lived in Bermuda since 1989 — could apply for status.

Government initially questioned that decision, but later withdrew an appeal. That drew accusations from the Opposition Progressive Labour Party that the ruling One Bermuda Alliance secretly welcomed the move, which could see thousands of foreigners given the right to vote.

Government has dismissed that claim and also accused the Opposition of exaggerating the impact of the ruling, claiming that there are currently only around 1,400 PRC holders. The Opposition maintains that the ruling could open the floodgates for up to 6,000 foreigners to get the vote.

Despite insisting that the number of PRC holders is limited, Government this week refused to reveal how many submissions for status had been received since the issue arose at the start of the summer.

The Royal Gazette e-mailed questions to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday. Yesterday a spokesman for the Ministry declined to comment.

Yesterday Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown questioned why Government was keeping the figure under wraps, claiming it betrayed Government claims of being transparent.

“We know that there are 1,400 PRC holders and so there’s no reason whatsoever why Government can’t disclose to the public how many of them have applied for status,” Mr Brown said.

“We will be having Parliamentary questions on this issue when the House resumes in November and Government will be required to answer, so the numbers will come out eventually.

“But that’s some time off so why should the public have to wait until then. The Government has always talked about being open and transparent yet this is a disconcerting step.”