Long term residents and their children would be granted Bermudian status under the United Bermuda Party.

They also plan to review the six-year term-limit policy and revoke legislation which they believe "adversely affects" Bermudians who plan to buy property with their expatriate spouse.

The party admitted that previous UBP administrations failed to properly deal with the issue of the rights of long term residents but said they planned to fix this.

In their manifesto they said: "The United Bermuda Party recognises the inequities in the existing system whereby some members of one family unit have Permanent Residency and others have Bermuda Status. This inequity is particularly prevalent in the Portuguese and West-Indian communities."

They pledged to review the system and grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents who have lived on the Island for more than 20 years and arrived prior to moratorium imposed in 1989.

They also said they would repeal recent Government legislation that bars Bermudians married to foreigners from owning more than one property if the spouse is to help pay for it or benefit from it in any way, such as by living in the property or receiving rental income.

The move, a bid to preserve land, sparked uproar from protestors who believe it violated the Human Rights Act, specifically language in it relating to marriage in Bermuda.

Also, a review of the six-year limit for work permits would be conducted, with the party believing the policy neither advances Bermudians nor contributes to the efficiency and stability of business.

Additionally, tax incentives would be given to smaller businesses to encourage the implementation of apprenticeship and training programmers for Bermudians.

On matters of Labour, the manifesto states: "The United Bermuda Party has not traditionally been seen as the party of the labour movement.

"However, whilst in Opposition we have more fully come to understand the concerns of labour and have been disappointed at the treatment by Bermuda's labour party of public sector workers."

Labour pledges include:

• Regularly consult and liaise with labour leaders and union representatives to identify areas of union concerns prior to the expiry of contracts.

• Negotiate with unions and employee representatives in a timely and responsive fashion.

• Enhance the Employment Act to increase minimum maternity leave provisions.

• Improve the quality, substance and timeliness of Employment Tribunal decisions.