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Immigration - ‘Once again the PLP distorts and spreads fear’
Saturday, December 15, 2007
By Patricia J. Gordon-Pamplin, JP, MP , Acting Leader United Bermuda Party
Once again, the PLP government is scaremongering to get people to vote for them.
In the case of the UBP’s position on long-term residents, they are grossly manipulating statistics to mislead people, just like they did with high school graduation rates and tourism arrival figures.
First the PLP said 8,000 people will be eligible, a day later it was down to 4,000. The Royal Gazette reporting from most recently available government figures shows the number to be 869 Permanent Residency Certificate holders.
One has to wonder, if the Royal Gazette can get actual figures from Government, why can’t Government get actual figures from Government?
We know the answer. This campaign has shown that the PLP will do anything and say anything to maintain their grip on power.
The United Bermuda Party’s motive in addressing the issue of long-term residents is to shut down inequities in the name of family unity. Under current conditions, there are families with older members as permanent residents and children with status.
We think the issue should be addressed and to that end we will formally study the issue with a view to “publishing guidelines and conditions for review.” That’s the specific commitment we have made. Nothing that comes out of this review – we repeat nothing – can be granted without the full support of the House of Assembly. It is a matter for national consultation and decision – not behind-closed-doors decision-making as the PLP have shown with their use of Special Development Orders to bypass public discussion.
The United Bermuda Party is a people’s party, committed to listening to what people have to say on this matter or any other matter of concern.
That the PLP would twist our position into a plan to create thousands of new Bermudians reveals something desperate at the centre of their election campaign. Anything, it seems, but the truth; anything to mislead people for a vote.
We see it is a solid reminder of why they have lost the trust of people.
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