Review of PLP's 2020 electoral platform on Immigration

While we wait for the platforms to be published for the upcoming election, I thought it would be interesting to look back at what the PLP promised in the 2020 electoral platform, and how much of it has come to pass.

Their Immigration platform was set out here, and consisted of the following:

• Continue the work with the bipartisan committee to complete comprehensive immigration reform dealing with the issues of long-term residents.
  

• Revise the Long-Term Residential Certificate policy to require all future residents to make economic investments in Bermuda, such as the establishment of family offices, acquisition and development of property, setting up a new business, or investment in the Bermuda Trust Fund.
  

• Reform the Work Permit Policy to promote business expansion in Bermuda while regulating gainful employment of guest workers. 
  

• Digitise the immigration application processes to improve the quality and speed of the delivery of immigration services.
  

• Grow the economy by providing incentives for emigrated Bermudians to return home.
  

Here's a quick rundown on these.

Complete comprehensive immigration reform dealing with long term residents

This was arguably achieved in December 2021, with the pathways to PRC for 20-year residents, their spouses and children.

Revise residential certificate policy to require economic investments in Bermuda

This was done in March 2021.

Reform work permit policies

Other than some tweaking of restricted and closed categories, and some flip flopping on whether dependent partners can seek employment, work permit policies have not changed substantially since 2015.

Digitise immigration application process

I am aware of a pilot for digitisation, but not a single client of mine was interested in submitting an application via an untested digital portal, and I am not sure where it has ended up. There was then an announcement that AI would be used to speed up processing times. I have certainly seen a marked improvement in processing times for applications, but cannot be sure what role digitisation has had in this.

Provide incentives for emigrated Bermudians to return

I am not aware of any incentive schemes encouraging Bermudian emigrants to return to the island.

In summary, the government did deliver on two of its main platform commitments, possibly did something with digitisation, and failed to deliver on two others. This may be useful when assessing what they are putting forwards for the next five years.