Legislation to give new rights to long-term residents was laid before the House of Assembly yesterday.

Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said the new rules emerged from Government's recent white paper on long-term residents and presented a happy balance between the concerns of Bermudians and the anxieties of long-term residents who have been left with few rights.

The Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act will give Bermuda status to the siblings or parents of Bermudians under certain circumstances.

The applicants must be Commonwealth citizens and have been living on the Island before July 31, 1989 and who have been here for 20 years.

A second group of people who have been here for a long time will be given permanent residents certificates, which means they will be able to look for work without getting work permit renewals, but they won't be able to vote.

They will also be able to buy property, but not at the bottom end of the market so they are not putting pressure on affordable housing which is needed for Bermudians.

Mr. Lister said: "It settles the question of residence for people who have been here a number of years

"It is a sensible solution because Bermudians have concerns about status and non-Bermudians have had had concerns about left in a sort of nowhere land, and this is a happy medium."