Scrap it

I’m disappointed with, and slightly puzzled by, the UBP’s stance on work permit term limits.

In Friday’s Bermuda Sun, Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert said that the policy was not in Bermuda’s best interest and created unnecessary uncertainty in the international business sector. He said that the situation should be handled on a case-by-case basis and not via a blanket policy. Despite this, however, he only committed the UBP to reviewing the policy, "with a view to striking the right balance between the needs of the international business sector and the needs and capabilities of our people".

There certainly needs to be a balance between the needs of international business and the needs of Bermudians. However, work permit term limits are bad for everyone (if you’re in any doubt, read Tom Vesey’s excellent summary). The UBP should be promising to scrap the policy, not review it.

Comments

[SmokingGun on 27.11.06 at 20:13]

"The policy needs to be changed before the damage is done."

Damage is already being done. Many people have had to start making alternative plans and cannot go back on them even if the whole thing is scrapped.

As they say common sense is the least common of all senses. Tom Vesey has written an excellent piece indeed. I feel like making 70,000 copies of it and sticking it under the wiper blades of every Bermudians car. And with whatever's left over I'd like to plaster the BIU's HQ and every dim-witted politician's house who is pandering to them.

Scrap the policy and get off your lazy arses and enforce the rules already in place.

[sandgrownan on 28.11.06 at 08:09]

I have second hand knowledge of cases where entire functional groups are being moved overseas, rendering the Bermudian employees unemployed if they do not wish to move. A direct result of this flawed policy.
I have first hand knowledge of the enormous burden and cost being placed on Bermuidan business as a direct result of this flawed policy.

It harms to people it's meant to protect.

[silencedogood on 28.11.06 at 09:52]

Beyond the damage to existing businesses, this policy devastates any sector where there isn't a critical mass of trained, qualified, and motivated bermudians.

Essentially it restricts or reverses the development of any additional economic sectors, particularly in technology, because those jobs are usually portable and because, in their infancy at least, they will rely heavily on foriegn workers.

Initiatives such as the tech school are great ideas, but take time to yield results when businesses need trained people today. Once a company figures out a way to outsource, those jobs are long gone for the bermuda worker.

The UBP won't say "scrap it" because most voters (IMO) don't understand the damage caused by this policy and support it because it sounds like a solution and they trust those advocating it. SG is right on when he singles out the BIU--this is the target audience for the limit. They don't get it on most issues, they won't start here.

It would be principled, but political suicide, to take the stance the Limey is advocating and give Dr. Brown a chance to say "they are selling you out to the foriegners!" which he would be shouting from every rooftop. Being vague gives you options.

[VB on 28.11.06 at 09:58]

There should be no surprise at the critical situation we are headed into for all the reasons Tom Vesey listed.

Take a look at the ranks of the Cabinet & the PLP back bench. See any self made successful business people there?

What will it take for the PLP to admit this flawed policy & scrap. Most likely it will be more costly to the Island than the Berkley fiasco.

[Freddie on 28.11.06 at 12:34]

I agree Tom Vesey's article said it all. He's easily the most penetrating columnist in Bda.

But it's not just Wayne Furbert being wishywashy on the issue, where are the Employer's Council and the Chamber of Commerce?

Term limits is just as hare-brained an idea as putting the new hospital in the middle of the Botanical Gardens. At least Dr. Brown gave that idea short shrift - maybe he'll do the same for term limits, though I doubt it.

Mr. Furbert says we have to weigh the needs of International Business with those of local people. But what about local businesses? Has he heard of them?

Term Limits will not reduce the numbers of guest workers; only down-grade their utility to their employers and increase the stress and difficulties of operating a business. The problems of recruiting, transporting, immigration application, accomodation, local orientation and training will multiply - but, as I said - Tom Vesey said it all.

The mind-set seems to be that guest workers are just a commodity, where one unit is interchangeable with another. Too bad.

[Lost in Flatts on 28.11.06 at 13:56]

I remember kicking up a huge fuss over this policy when it was announced, and saying how clear an example it was that the PLP would letting their irrational emotions get the better of their policy making, and it having absolutely no chance of benefitting anyone, but then it all went away. Good politiking combined with the short memory of the press (and the opposition?!) and poof, no word for years.

Until now.

If I were Ewart I'd get that election in as fast as possible. Because for the very first time he's about to see if his party's hardest hitting new policy is actually going to hurt Bermuda as much as some people fear it will. And given the amount of foresight it showed to propose, much less pass the 6-year term limit, my best guess is that he has no idea.

This is the first meaningful piece of legislation the PLP have enacted, the first that is not just for show, or a safe way to please voters. This is going to have an impact, and for the life of me I can't work out how it could possibly be positive for anyone.

[Andrew on 28.11.06 at 16:56]

One thing that Tom Vesey and the blog posters have neglected to highlight is the fact that exported guest workers don't stop working - they just go elsewhere to work.

I doubt that any sane business owner would implement a policy of firing every worker after six years of service. Taking a fully trained employee with industry-specific and company-specific knowledge and handing them over to the competition would be commercial suicide.

Bermuda's economy is analogous to any other business, but Bermuda's executive management team has decided to send the best and the brightest to go work for the competition.

Does anyone else see how flawed this logic is? Bermuda's loss is someone else's gain. (Cayman, Barbados, Bahamas, London, Isle of Man, New York, etc...)

[SmokingGun on 28.11.06 at 18:13]

"entire functional groups are being moved overseas" - sandgrownan

Andrew - I think that pretty much sums up what you are saying. Imagine you have a relatively small company that is only 5 years old yet doing great numbers and about ready to start really growing. It makes little sense to even consider staying. Move it lock, stock and two smoking barrels (shout out to VJ there) and leave your troubles behind.

And about that law of having to re-hire everyone over should you reach 10 employees. Re-work that one too while your at it Doc.

[Chris Broadhurst on 28.11.06 at 19:30]

This totally ridiculous rule will inconvenience hundreds of expats who will be waiting until the last minute because immigration won't have their permit decisions made in good time.

When it comes to assinine Government rules this one takes the cake.

[JJ on 28.11.06 at 19:35]

It seems even the PLP supporters who post here on a regular basis can't even find anything good to say about this daft policy.

[Company Director on 28.11.06 at 20:19]

I personally know 3 IB senior management personnel,who are leaving their posts. All 3 in charge of departments that consist only of Bermudian employees. These departments are not going to be replaced when these managers have finished their present terms, next year for 2 of them and 2008 for the 3rd.

In total, 17 Bermudians are going to lose their jobs. Tip of the iceberg. How many other posters here know of the same type of scenario?

[Bermudian on 29.11.06 at 00:57]

"I personally know 3 IB senior management personnel,who are leaving their posts. All 3 in charge of departments that consist only of Bermudian employees. These departments are not going to be replaced when these managers have finished their present terms, next year for 2 of them and 2008 for the 3rd."

Any reason why these departments are not going to be replaced? Perhaps due to spite on your company's behalf towards the Government? Just curious as to why no reason was given... I'm sure you'll come up with something great now though!

[The Christian Fist of Gratitude on 29.11.06 at 08:11]

Bermudian - only governments (like our own) can afford to act out of spite; businesses have to act in the interests of our shareholders and make a return on our invested capital.

Bermuda can afford to play regulatory arbitrage with the livliehoods of the emerging and vibrant black middle class here. Although it has been put to me by more than one member of that demographic that the PLP is so afraid of social mobility that maybe that is who the PLP are targetting in all their luddite wisdom.

[sandgrownan on 29.11.06 at 08:24]

Bermudian

The reason the depts. mentioned by Company Director and the example I am personally aware of, are being moved elsewhere is nothing to do with spite. The reason is that they have time and money invested in these individuals. If these businesses have decided that these individuals are essential then they will move them, and their departments elsewhere, and who loses? Bermudian employees.

[Hello my name is Somers, and I am Bermudian on 29.11.06 at 09:01]

Bermudian, it doesn't matter what reason it is being done for. The fact is that it is being done. Just think - it is 17 of our aceboys and acegirls who will be hunting around for a job trying to figure out how to pay the rent/mortgage. Get ready - here comes the "newer" improved Bermuda!

[Lost in Flatts on 29.11.06 at 09:05]

Bermudian - Hazarding a crazy guess: maybe because the company don't want to see the exact same thing happen again in 6 years?

[Mark Geoghegan on 29.11.06 at 09:34]

Hi,

I'm new here but I'm interested in all this because I'm the editor of Reinsurance magazine over in London.

Last month we ran an article from Mairi Mallon (ex Royal Gazette, but now back in Scotland) on this subject. I think Tom Vesey's article is great, by the way.

International reinsurers are far too scared to say anything publicly about this, but as soon as I turn off the microphone, they tell me how impossible this is making things for them.

And the bizarre thing is all the CEOs, CFOs and main underwriters are exempt and they and their dependents would almost certainly end up having the right to become Bermudian nationals in an independent Bermuda!

My own view is that the Bermuda Government is pretty pragmatic - when it sees damage being done it will act.

The trouble is it might take a long time for them to realise that something is up.

If this goes on too long there won't be any job opportunities in Bermuda for ordinary people - unless you are a CEO CFO or whatever.

All the 'ordinary' (but very nicely paid thank-you very much!) jobs will be in non-Bermudian subsidiaries and the Bermuda-domiciled holding companies will just be brass-plates with a Bank account, two board meetings a year and skeleton staff.

How would this benefit Bermudians? How will anyone work their way up the ladder if there are no entry-level jobs to start with?

My question to you Bermudians is what's the situation with the Bermdian education system?

That's the best way to bring opportunities for the poorest, as any company will always hire locally if it can (becasue it is cheaper), provided it can get the skills it needs.

[JJ on 29.11.06 at 10:12]

Bermudian, do you care to comment of the efficacy of the government's policy? Do you think it will achieve any positive benefits for the economy or the average man in the street?

[Bill Cook on 29.11.06 at 10:12]

I think term limits is a knee jerk reaction to what is a genuine problem here in Bermuda.

It is one that is in some instances impossible to implement, as in the case of nurses and even skilled policemen because there is a world wide shortage of both.

We have also terminated the work permits of very skilled doctors and surgeons with a proven record of excellence to our detriment.

Bermuda has a falling birthrate and has for some time so it would be prudent in my opinion to see how many people will be needed to fill the gap and allow those special people to either become permanent residents or grant them status as long as the numbers make sense.

If the larger companies have other world offices they should rotate key personel to avoid 6 continious years and comply with regulations possibly.

The one missing ingredient in all this decision making is common sense because of the obvious lack of logic involved in silly musical chairs where the real losers are both IB and Bermudians it seems.

[Tiger Bay on 29.11.06 at 10:26]

A thoughtful opinion by Christian Dunleavy at http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/OPINION/111290174

Term limits do not make sense for Bermuda.

[jake on 29.11.06 at 10:39]

I don't doubt your examples, but for the vast majority of people who remain (Foreign and Bermudian) we will get on with it.

Essential people are exempted from the policy and even my secretary is essential. I train Bermudians, so I am a good corporate citizen.

Real business people can adapt and if they had to, would move. We are so far from that position currently that I think the policy - whilst the wrong one - will not prove to be the disaster that is predicted above.

But don't take my word for it - watch and see.

[Uncle Elvis on 29.11.06 at 11:05]

You guys are all wrong. Isn't it obvious?
This company is shutting down the section because they love to shoot themselves in the foot in order to spit in the eye of the PLP!
Come on. That's the motivation of EVERYONE!
It has nothing to do with the fact that, because of these term limits, it is now one hell of a lot less viable to set up important sectors of your company here, as some of the staff will have to leave in 6 years at most.
Nothing whatsoever.
It's all about spiting the PLP because we're all a bunch of racists.

God, I'm sick of this.

[Darkside on 29.11.06 at 11:09]

It is my opinion that the term limit policy was enacted solely to ensure that the minimum number of non-Bermudians would be eligible to apply for Bermudian status should we go independent.

[Bermudian on 29.11.06 at 11:13]

Christian,

You suggest the PLP is afraid of social mobility? Are you kidding me??? Question: Do you HONESTLY think the PLP will have more power by keeping poor people poor or helping poor people become wealthier?

And as for acting out of spite, governments are not the only ones who can act out of spite; undemocratic organizations with large pockets have more of a chance than anyone else!

sandgrownan,

I'm not sure if you can speak on behalf of Company Director, unless of course you are Company Director as well or you and he/she are talking about the exact same department.

sandgrownan & Somers,

So you're saying that the companies have invested all this time and money into these individuals. And with Company Director's example, you're saying that the company is going to move that entire team abroad and sacrifice a further 17 people who they have invested time and money in as well. Yea, that makes sense. Rather than sacrifice 3 people, i'll sacrifice 20 instead. I could understand this if they were being asked to cycle thru senior execs like that. And there is a clause stating that if they are proven to be key employees, they will be given an exemption. But these are non-key employees and there will not be any shortage of them in the world market. And if the companies are so concerned about it, why not invest some time and money into a Bermudian to fill the job...then you wont have to worry about that...oh, but i forgot, Bermudian's are lazy and dont want the job, right? Oh please.

[H Reardon on 29.11.06 at 11:19]

You have all seemed to miss the point of why this legislation was enacted. It doesn't have anything to do with protecting the average Bermudian's job--it has to do with protecting the PLP's power.

This legislation was enacted just as the independence issue started to gain momentum among our illustrious leaders (despite the fact that none of us seem to support independence). If Bermuda were to go independent, the government has received legal advice that those on the island for 10 years or more would need to be granted citizenship according to international law. For the most part, these are middle aged white people working in international business--not your typical PLP supporter.

Therein lies the problem for the PLP. This new class of voters are not PLP supporters. This is simply a matter of holding on to power--with an added benefit of throwing in some "they are taking our jobs" rhetoric as well.

If the independence push were to go away, I am confident that you would see this legislation disappear.

The PLP don't care about what's best for Bermuda--they care about staying in power.

[SmokingGun on 29.11.06 at 11:33]

Bermudian - say I am an ex-pat who was sent to Bermuda to set up a company/division. My family and I decide we will do it for a 10 to 12 year period. I'm very good at running the show but the main reason my investors/company has chosen to operate out of Bermuda is because of it's favourable tax laws. I only need a team of decently qualified staff, mostly accounting, book-keeping and office staff. Most of the heavy lifting is done elsewhere, we just need a physical presence.

Things are going great. My company is doing well, my employees are happy and making good salaries. A couple have proven to be very good at their job and I really enjoy working with my team. My family has settled in and the kids are doing well in school. After 4 years my investors/company finds out that the government has changed the rules and I have a term limit of only six years and we need to do something. The Caymans are a good option. What are my options?

1: Wait and see if I can get a special exemption. Which may or may not happen so I need to prepare.
2: Replace myself and leave Bermuda to find another job.
3: Offer jobs to a couple of my top employees and move to the Caymans. And deal with their immigration issues.
4: Shut down Bermuda and just move to the Caymans which has a very similar demographic and should be relatively easy to re-create the presence necessary for legal purposes.

Bermudian - What should I do? This same question is being asked on many levels all over Bermuda.

[The Christian Fist of Gratitude on 29.11.06 at 13:40]

Bermudian

The PLP are afraid of their core vote's priniples moving closer to the UBP faster than they themselves can move. This has been the fate of so many centre left parties in the last 30 years (and another example of the anachronistic charm of the Rock).

I speak as a veteran of the Labour Party of the 1980s so to some degree I speak from experience. I am leaving in March next year as the costs of replacing 3 of my staff is too high so I'm taking the department to London and putting 6 Bermudians out of a job. Sorry about that.

[Roly Poly on 29.11.06 at 13:42]

"Essential people are exempted from the policy"

Perhaps if you are Ace or XL but this has not been the experience of my midsize company which employs only a handful of expats in specialist positions (the majority of our staff is Bermudian). Our key man arguments have been ignored by Immigration. This is damaging to our business.

[Casual Observor on 29.11.06 at 14:03]

The vast majority of those working in the IB sector will very likely qualify for key employee status. I think that any resulting shuffle might create some space at the lower end of the totem pole for Bermudians, which is what I think the legislation is out to accomplish.

There are some positions within the industy that are quite easily fillable by locals, or conversely, would not create any major inconvenience or disruption if the turnover in that position was at a rate of every couple of years. Let's be honest... what is the average length of time that any employee stays at any one company in the US/UK/Canada/etc!?

Those key employees will get key employee status. Those who are more expendable will be easily replace. The nature of business is adaptation and I think the int'l companies will fare well.

[sandgrownan on 29.11.06 at 14:44]

Bermudian - in the example I state, the employee is the department head and considered key. However, the powers that be at immigration have denied granting of key employee status. Hence, this department is moving overseas.

Reardon is right on the money. I have commented for years that on Independence, many expats, LTR's and SOB's become Bermudian overnight. That's the real thrust of this half baked legislation.

[Silus on 29.11.06 at 15:28]

Smoking Gun

Unfortunately Cayman in all it's wisdom, has gone the same and introduced a retrospect 7 year rule, so were in the same sinking boat.
I totally get your point though.

[Tiggy on 29.11.06 at 16:00]

Being an expat and waiting for my exemption to be approved (they won't approve my work permit until that happens), it is extremely unsettling. Can I appeal? Do they give me 3 weeks to clear out my house and leave? Where do I go? Having lived on this lovely island for most of my life (but do not qualify for PRC), it is extremely distressing.

[Bandit on 29.11.06 at 18:08]

When a company appoint a new director, much time is spent interviewing and assessing the people. The best most qualified people are chosen.

For a large company, people are brought in from abroad. Only the best will do

When you want advice on a pension or the future, you go to a qualified professional and hope he gives you the best advice.

When it comes to government, you don't need qualification, there are no overseeing body's, nobody to ask for advice.

Why is it that the people who run our countries are not people we would not trust with our personal assets, and yet we effectively trust them with our lives?

[SmokingGun on 29.11.06 at 19:07]

With a name like Bandit I had to laugh at your acute observation. ;-)

The New Premier has stated that he will be commissioning a committee of top economic minds to create a round table for discussing our future and help guide us. I look forward to seeing who is on the committee so that I too can get an answer to your question.

And if the first two names begin with B then I think I'll have a good idea.

[Bermudian on 29.11.06 at 20:11]

HR Reardon,

sandgrownan says your comments are "right on the money"? You guys are not making sense. Firstly you say that independence will cause a mass exodus of IB companies... now you're saying that the PLP have enacted this law because once we become independent, the expats will become citizens and help vote out the PLP. According to your logic, if we go independent there wont be anymore expats so the PLP wont have to worry about expats wanting to become citizens and stay in Bermuda!

SG,

please see Silus' comment - nuff said. Pack your bags to go to the Caymans? For what? To just pack them again to try and come back to Bermuda? LOL!

In my opinion, Casual Observor is "right on the money"!

Bandit,

are you saying we should personal asset managers run the country or something? The whole point of a democracy is to get away from that whole fascist movement. We elect people here and if you don't think that the people in power are capable, then YOU run since you think you can do a better job!

[SmokingGun on 29.11.06 at 20:50]

Silus - thanks. I completely forgot that the Caymans had done that. I guess I'm not such a good candidate to trun the show after all. ;-)

Bermudian - I hear the women in Dublin are beautiful. And the beer and golf are pretty good too. Same story different locale. So what should I do?

[Tiger Bay on 29.11.06 at 21:33]

The problem with term limits is that the really big companies have the force with government to carve out "key roles" with Immigration.

The smaller companies (which are more likely to be Bermudian owned) often don't have the clout, the lawyers, or the big HR department to do this ... so they have a hard time.

This is dumb as it stunts the creativity of the growing companies, and ties Bermuda's destiny even more to the big exempts.

Cayman has emulated Bermuda's approach to term limits - and it is causing even more heartache there human rights issues are bing raised. I think they too will retreat from this idiot policy.

[Pitts Bay on 29.11.06 at 21:39]

If I recall the policy statement, while a Key Person may get exempt from the 6 year period, even they are subject to the 9 year maximum (i.e. just short of that magical 10 years)

So, in 2010, all the IB executives and other key people will also have to leave!

[Bermudian on 29.11.06 at 22:16]

SG,

"I hear the women in Dublin are beautiful. And the beer and golf are pretty good too."

Ah yes, all great reasons to move your operations away from Bermuda! But seriously, Bermuda still has a better regulatory regime and, regardless of this rule, you'll still get more bang for your buck here due to the high tax incentives.

So ultimately, you can do whatever you want. As I said before, getting rid of 20 employees makes much less sense than getting rid of 3 replaceable ones (in my opinion, of course). All the company's who are ready to pack their bags and leave, I guess it wasn't meant to be. For all the other companies who are committed to helping make Bermuda's social and economic community better, we appreciate your presence!

[Company Director on 30.11.06 at 06:48]

Bermudian said:-
"Any reason why these departments are not going to be replaced? Perhaps due to spite on your company's behalf towards the Government? Just curious as to why no reason was given... I'm sure you'll come up with something great now though!"

It's not my company. The reason given is that it will cost more money to replace the 3 managers than the profit the departments make.

And these are not isolated incidents.

[Lost in Flatts on 30.11.06 at 07:40]

Bermudian: Well fought, I was hoping you'd get some backup in here, instead it's been a bit of an Alamo. The one thing I think we can all agree on - and that would appear to include Ewart and Randy given their admissions that they're willing to look at alternatives - is that this legislation was never really that clever, and is a mistake. Even the few comments trying to defend it haven't shown a single positive aspect of the term limits. Reminds me of the independence debate, but that's for another day.

Therefore this is going to become an exercise in humility: can the PLP admit they were wrong, and change this law to better Bermuda. Bush can't do it in Iraq, let's see if Ewart is any better. I hope he is.

[sandgrownan on 30.11.06 at 08:18]

I'm angry now. I just had to listen to that idiot Caines on the radio defending the 6 year term limit policy. First he said "we are working actively with IB"..well Wayne, what about Bermudian business? Then he said that the IB should train young Bermudians to fill key postions. Great, if there were enough of them of sufficient educational standard. And then finally, he said "IB have known this was coming so it's their fault if they haven't planned for it."

It's official, the PLP governement are morons.

[silencedogood on 30.11.06 at 09:40]

Silus,

Cayman allows you to apply for long term residency at the end of the 7 years which can be dragged out for another 2 with the automatic rights of appeal granted under their law even if ultimately denied. It is geared mainly at service workers (still dumb, but less dumb). They also allow expats to buy property.

Simplistic comparisons aren't accurate. We'd probably seem more competition from them if they hadn't been wiped out by that hurricane a year or two ago.

All,

The biggest issue is that this policy puts a lid on expanding the economy. Do you think we would have had IB at present levels if this was in place? Unlikely.

Look into the history of ACE and XL which spearheaded the development of the Bermuda market. Before that it was all captive business--great for lawyers but not a good job creator.

Bermudians certainly played a role in forming the bda market, but foriegners were the heavy lifters in terms of expertise and capital. Those companies have been around for over 20 years. For the math challenged that's 14 years over the limit.

Maybe those top execs would get key status, but maybe not. Remember that in the beginning they won't have the loads of cash to "donate" or the ability to be carry excess baggage in the name of being a "good corporate citizen".

Uncertainty such as this means that Bermuda goes from a no-brainer to a situation in which capital has to at least look seriously at the alternatives to make an informed decision. Other places have just gotten a better shot at the business due to this chink in th armor. After all, many companies look to locate here to avoid stupid regulations not be subjected to them!

So while larger companies that can maintain a visible presence and move all support functions overseas that can be moved overseas smaller, often bermudian companies, will be squeezed in terms of time and resources devoted to compliance with this senseless policy and there will be less and less expansion of the economy beyond the confines of the current sectors of insurance and hedge funds.

You can have a little control over a large pie, or a lot of control over a little one. You can't have both.

[Bandit on 30.11.06 at 11:03]

He actually said "IB have known this was coming so it's their fault if they haven't planned for it."?

God help Bermuda!!!

[Tiger Bay on 30.11.06 at 12:40]

It's not about IB - it's about local business too.

The fact is IB has planned for this by shifting jobs out of Bermuda to more business friendly jurisdictions.

[sandgrownan on 30.11.06 at 12:40]

Bandit - yes he did. What a complete idiot.

[Casual Observor on 30.11.06 at 12:58]

So far I have yet to hear one alternative to the government's term limit legislation. Do we scrap it entirely!? If so, how many people do we realistically want to cram into this 20 odd square mile chunk of rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!?

People are crying out for sustainable development initiatives... Is this not a viable sustainable development iniatiative!? Perhaps this is one way of curbing the exponential growth - which is not necessarily a bad thing! If anything, the new legislation will probably affect how deeply rooted individual workers become, not necessarily the companies they work for. People, it's not the end of the world as we know it.

And besides, if in the process Bermudians can benefit from spaces created at the bottom of the food chain, then there's another bonus! There may be some flight of companies, but it will be a trickle as opposed to a stampede.

[Phil on 30.11.06 at 13:19]

Why would it be such a bad thing if people who have been here for over 10 years were allowed to become long-term residents?

It would not result in there being any more people here than there are today, it would simply change their status. So where would be the harm to Bermuda?

If the issue is that the island is over-crowded and there is a need to actively reduce the number of people here, then simply reducing the number of work permits issued would surely be more effective.

Casual Observor

This policy allows for one expat to be swapped for another, so it's an extremely inefficient way of curbing the Island's "exponential growth" and creating opportunities for Bermudians. Indeed, the need to renew work permits on a regular basis (and readvertise the position) is already doing the latter.

[Lost in Flatts on 30.11.06 at 13:31]

Casual Observor

Overcrowding and sustainable development are indeed issues that Bermuda must tackle, but please don't let the PLP convince you these two issues are primarily due to thousands of ex-pats driving their fleets of SUVs. The fact is that IB has created a whole slew of jobs that need filling by someone. If Bermudians could buck up and graduate high school, follow up by taking advantage of the great scholarship schemes/now cheap UK/Canada education and then apply themselves in the IB world then we'd be alright. Problem is that this doesn't happen, for many reasons, and this is what the PLP should be tackling.

I believe every one of those companies would love to replace all of their mid level employees with equally qualified, equally competent Bermudians. It makes their lives so much easier. But there's no supply to quench the demand.

Your proposal (so a few companies leave, good riddance) suggests that we should instead decrase demand for jobs, but surely this won't help anything, as there still aren't enough qualified Bermudians to take the jobs that are left.

So instead, every 6 years companies have to waste time and resources finding, hiring, importing and training a new employee to replace their old expat. And unless you want no demand at all, it's not a good idea messing about with MNC's time and money.

[SmokingGun on 30.11.06 at 13:36]

When one reads in the Paper that the folks at Mr. Chicken have gone through 37 Bermudians in just 9 months because they just don't want to work it sure makes one wonder if we should impose term limits on Bermudians.

Another reason to not go independent.