Almost one third of the Island’s 1,400 Permanent Resident Certificate holders have applied for status in the past five months, according to Government.

The Ministry of Home Affairs released the figure yesterday after earlier failing to provide information when questioned by The Royal Gazette.

The Ministry spokesman confirmed that it had received “443 applications from PRC holders seeking Bermudian status” since a Supreme Court ruling in May ratified a previously overlooked legal loophole which enabled PRC holders — foreigners who had been resident in Bermuda since 1989 — to apply for status.

The spokesman added that there was never any intention to withhold the figure from the public.

“There was no delay in releasing this information but simply a matter of ensuring the most accurate information was disseminated to the public as at the end of September 2014,” the spokesman said.

The question of status for PRC holders has been a contentious issue since Chief Justice Ian Kawaley made his ruling in May. Government initially appealed the decision, but withdrew the appeal on legal advice in July.

The Opposition Progressive Labour Party then accused Government of opening the floodgates for up to 6,000 foreigners to be given the vote.

Critics also suggested argued that granting status to PRC holders would allow them compete directly with Bermudians for jobs.

Government has always maintained that there are only 1,455 PRCs on the Island, although it has acknowledged that several hundred PRC dependants could also eventually apply for status.

And it has consistently pointed out that PRC holders have always been able to compete with Bermudians in the job market because they are not subject to any work permit restrictions.

Although the number of applications received was released only yesterday, last month the Department of Immigration confirmed that it had already started processing applications.