Immigration Position Paper provides lack of meaningful commitments

The Minister responsible for Immigration and Labour has recently published a Position Paper on Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population. As with any formal announcement from Immigration, long-term residents will be interested in what this might mean for them.

This paper recites population projections that have been known for decades, namely that Bermuda's population is going through a period of aging much more rapidly than the average for 'developed' countries.

The paper contains a grave warning that Bermuda's working population will be unable to support the local economy in years to come. Presumably it means support the local economy at the current level.

The paper talks of increasing the working population by over 8000 people over the coming five years. It says this can be achieved by the following:

• retention and enticing back of employable Bermudians;
• increased immigration;
• new business development;
• labour policy changes.

It doesn't state what labour policy changes might be contemplated.

It goes on to say that Bermuda will need objective and comprehensive reassessments of existing social, economic and political policies, including immigration policies and programs. Again, it doesn't really indicate what might be meant by this.

Comprehensive immigration reform is a buzzword term that has been regularly invoked for many years now by successive Immigration Ministers, without much in the way of action. It remains to be seen if this time will be any different but, based on past performance, all I can really say is that there's very little new information that can be inferred from this position paper.

I do find it notable that it talks of retention and enticement back of Bermudians, but is silent on retention of others who have made Bermuda their home. Whether this is because the Minister has little interest in retaining settled long-term residents, or because it is politically inexpedient to say so, this is not very encouraging for those who are looking for signs of a more open attitude towards long-term residents.