Government and the Opposition Progressive Labour Party talked much but achieved little during the recent debate on the future of the Island's long-term residents an NLP spokesman claimed yesterday.

And NLP Chairman Charles Jeffers harpooned the entire concept of a US-style Green Card as a possible solution to the plight of persons who have lived here for more than 20 years.

He said:"It appears that both Government and the Opposition engaged in meaningless rhetoric, fancy-footwork and skirting the issue.

"Obviously with an election looming, both parties are reluctant to grab hold of this thorny issue and make decisions.'' Mr. Jeffers said that the NLP had made their position clear in their 1993/4 platform.

Accordingly he pointed out that the NLP would give a special amnesty status to persons who have lived on the Island for 20 years or more and to other persons who were born here, had reached age 21 and had lived here continuously for 16 years.

Mr. Jeffers said that the proposed idea of a resident's card was "almost a joke'' for a person who had been on Island at least 20 years.

"Countries such as the United States and Canada issue such cards when persons first enter the country.

"After the required years of residence those who apply for citizenship are virtually assured of getting it.'' He added:"The NLP is of the opinion that the Government does not have the gumption to take the bull by the horns and deal decisively with the issue.

"Neither do we believe that the Opposition will come up with a cohesive alternative.'' Last week Government signalled a future green light to a US-style Green Card solution to the problems of long-term residents.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said that it seemed to be a very popular option.

But he added that grants of status in special cases could not be ruled out.

Mr. Edness was speaking after a Green Paper on the plight of long-term residents, people who have notched up 20 years or more on the Island -- was tabled in the House of Assembly.

He added that a balance had to be struck between protecting Bermudians rights and those of long-tern residents.

But he said that general opinion also seemed to be in favour of ending the heartache of split families -- those with one non-Bermudian parent divorced from a Bermudian and families with children who had differing status.

Mr. Edness added that some people were worried because precise figures were not available on the number of people affected -- but insisted the estimates made were reckoned to be reasonably accurate.

And he reminded the House that when status was offered previously, only about 60 percent of those eligible actually applied.

Mr. Edness said that the Working Resident Card -- a Bermudian variant of the US system -- could eventually lead to full status.

MURDER ACCUSED IN COURT TODAY MUR Murder accused in court today The father accused of murdering his little girl will reappear in court today.

Damon Quincy Deroza, 20, of Cedar Hill, Warwick, is charged with the premeditated murder of his five-year-old child, Lynae Brown.

The girl's body was found floating in Hamilton Harbour, near Longford Road, Warwick, on November 20 of last year.

The case will be mentioned today in the Supreme Court and a trial date is expected to be set for Deroza.

GOVERNMENT GVT