The Progressive Labour Party criticised a move to expedite the processing of status applications at the close of the House of Assembly.

While Government said that KPMG volunteered to assist in the process at no cost to the Government, PLP Members of Parliament repeated calls for the processing to be halted outright.

Speaking on the Motion to Adjourn on Friday, Shadow Minister of Immigration and External Affairs Walton Brown said that allowing permanent resident’s certificate (PRC) holders to seek Bermudian status was frustrating to the people, and having KPMG assist would only increase tensions further.

He also called on Government to explain why they are prioritising the processing of status applications over other matters, adding that many people will find this “offensive”.

Mr Brown added that the public will want to know why the Government felt it needed help from the private sector and questioned the company’s commitment of providing the service free of charge, saying “it doesn’t smell right”.

PLP backbencher Lovitta Foggo later echoed Mr Brown’s statements, saying it was disconcerting that a private company was assisting to speed the process as applicants must be tested to make sure they do not have “questionable backgrounds”.

She also queried if the One Bermuda Alliance had properly considered the potential long-term implications of more people with Bermudian status, questioning if the necessary infrastructure was in place.

Ms Foggo asked: “Will they be able to take care of these people? Is what they are doing going to be sustainable in the long term?

“We don’t want to be looking back five years from now, ten years from now and being confronted with major issues.”

Shadow Attorney General Michael Scott raised concerns about the “amount of sensitive information that will be seen by members of the private sectors” in processing applications.

He said that speeding up the process was “highly offensive”, “risk-ridden” and exposes the Government to potential liability if mistakes are made to “which it would have very little defence”.

PLP MP Glenn Blakeney, meanwhile, suggested that the OBA was only allowing PRC holders to apply for status through a “loophole” because it would benefit them politically, saying that they would be less eager if the majority of eligible PRC holders came from the Caribbean.

“It’s nothing short of manipulative electoral gerrymandering by way of immigration policy,” he said.

PLP MP Walter Roban reiterated Mr Blakeney’s comments, suggesting that KPMG should be wary of being associated with such a controversial topic, while PLP MP Jamahl Simmons said the company should offer pro-bono work to members of the black community.

“I charge KPMG, do some pro bono work for the black men and women of this country once this is complete,” he said. “Do some pro-bono work for small business owners. That’s what I want to hear. The people who worked for free for the America’s Cup, do some free work for the black men and women of this country.”

Mr Simmons said that immigration policies have long been used as a weapon against black Bermudians, telling the House: “We sit across from the philosophical and ideological, even genetic descendants of the wicked people who put these policies in place.”

He fiercely attacked the OBA’s record, saying that they had repeatedly gone against their word during their time in power and that they likely would not have been elected if they ran on what their policies would be.

Junior Home Affairs Minister Sylvan Richards however argued that the opposition were treating PRC holders as “aliens” rather than people who have spent decades on the Island, saying that the OBA is trying to repair the damage done while the PLP were in power.

Mr Richards repeated that KPMG had approached the Government with the offer of free assistance and that the company would not be involved in the decision-making process, only ensuring that the applications are complete.

Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell added that “they are being good corporate citizens and giving back”, while Finance Minister Bob Richards said the PLP were aware of the law while they were in power and did nothing to change it.

“It’s their law, not ours, and we are carrying it out,” he said. “All of this other stuff is sheer rubbish, political pandering and no thinking person would believe it.”