We the people of Bermuda must be a voice of reason in a time of turbulence in our consideration of the policy with respect to ID cards being issued to non-Bermudian employees.

The issuance of identification documentation is a customary practice in other democratic jurisdictions. For example, Green Cards and Social Security Cards in the United States and the Residential Certificate in Bermuda which are all wallet size ID cards.

A Government's principal responsibility is to ensure that its citizens are cared for in an appropriate manner, with a transparent and fair process, without regard for race, creed or national origin. The manner in which this is carried out should be in keeping with the laws of the land which are Acts of Parliament. Ministers' responsibilities are to ensure that their policies are in concert with these Acts.

The Government in fulfilling its responsibilities must have regard for all people who are on our shores and have a legitimate right to be here, be they Bermudians, Permanent Residents, Guest Workers or Visitors.

When entering the airport arrivals hall, there are three areas: one for Bermudians, one for Long Term Residents and Guest Workers and one for Visitors. Is this discrimination?

A Bermudian must have a stamp in their passport to satisfy Immigration that they are Bermudian or they are detained for not having the proper identification. Is this discrimination or responsibility?

A Permanent Resident has to travel with their original Permanent Residents Certificate (copies are not acceptable). Is this discrimination?

A Guest Worker has to travel with their Employee copy of their work permit which states their category of employment and the basis of their landing permit. Is this discrimination?

Visitors are required to fill out a landing form where they have to disclose where they are staying, their length of stay and the purpose of their visit. Is this discrimination? These landing forms are standard practice to enter many countries Bermudians travel to. Is that discrimination?

Today we have several forms of identification – Special Persons cards, drivers licenses, voter registration cards, passports etc. Therefore, the idea of having an identification card for Guest Workers is not a discriminatory one but a practical one.

In order to protect Bermudians and their livelihoods and do it in an efficient manner, Government requires a method that allows the appropriate authority to determine the right of the employee to work in their area of employment.

The ID card should clearly show what job category the Department of Immigration has permitted the person to be employed.

Employers (individuals and companies) both Bermudian and Non-Bermudian would know that they are employing someone legally and would be held responsible for illegal workers. This way an employer could not plead ignorance because the information they require would be on the card.

This would also assist Government inspectors to do their job in a more efficient manner. They could spot check of places of employment and by inspecting the cards carried by workers could see who is working legally or illegally.

Guest workers would also find this convenient as it is easier to carry an ID card in their wallet then to carry their work permit to their places of employment, where it might be damaged or destroyed. Also they should be able to use this card as a re-entry document to the island.

Before the Government implements this scheme, it is hoped that a system is put in place to have work permit renewals completed in a timely and efficient manner to ensure that the information on the ID card is consistently current including the expiration date.

Government should go a step further and introduce a wallet-size replica of the Permanent Resident Certificate and Spousal Letter.

The ID card could be used for travel purposes, eliminating the need to travel with current original documents which, if lost overseas would present a problem of re-entry to the island.

The introduction of ID cards for Guest Workers would not prove to be offensive but convenient to both Guest Workers and the Department of Immigration.