Membership has been announced for a ten-person team looking into amendments to the Pathways to Status Bill, with insurance CEO William Madeiros appointed chairman.

Hailed last night in a government statement as representing a good cross section of the community, it includes One Bermuda Alliance backbencher Mark Pettingill and Progressive Labour Party MP Walton Brown.

Other members are Belinda Wright, Warren Jones, Dennis Fagundo, Crystal Caesar, Rick Woolridge, Lynne Winfield and Malika Musson.

The pathways initiative for long-term residents to apply for permanent residency and Bermudian status was dogged by controversy shortly after it was announced on February 5.

Parliamentary debate of the Bill was called off on March 15 amid five days of protests demanding bipartisan and collaborative reform of the island’s immigration laws. Calling on that occasion for the development of a working group, Michael Dunkley said that the proposed permanent residency for residents of 15 years had proven its most contentious element, and imposed a three-month delay.

The Premier added that there had been a consensus on other issues; such as status for children born on Bermuda and cases of mixed-status families.

The working group would also examine labour regulations and their impact on Bermudian workers, Mr Dunkley said.

Opposition calls for bipartisan reform date back to the early days of the One Bermuda Alliance administration, particularly with the January 2013 decision to drop term limits.

In March 2015, a bill brought to the Senate to stimulate property sales to non-Bermudians brought protesters into the Cabinet building, with Mr Brown telling this newspaper that immigration was “immersed in 50 years of race and nationality — the only way to break this is with a consensus”.

Last night’s statement commended “the collaborative approach that has been undertaken over the past few weeks, with the end result being a working group that represents a good cross section of the community.

“The working group will begin its work and will announce shortly their terms of reference which will form their approach as to how the consultative process will work.

“This should include the collection of public submissions, consultation with the wider public and stakeholder groups, among other things to ensure a balanced approach to arriving at sound policy recommendations.

“The public will be kept informed of the recommendations as part of the ongoing communications process.”

Shadow immigration minister Walter Roban responded to the announcement by claiming that several key factors “must be considered”.

“First, the Immigration Act predates desegregation, universal adult suffrage and the elimination of the plus vote,” he said.

“As a result, the law is in many ways outmoded and requires a thoughtful comprehensive overhaul.

“Second, Bermuda’s history of political abuse of immigration as a means of maintaining political power must be considered and prevented from recurring.

“Finally, Bermuda’s level of unemployment requires an immigration policy that enhances and expands Bermudian jobs and opportunities, not one that removes hundreds of guest workers from work permit control.”