outnumber those from the Azores, according to new Government immigration figures.

And yesterday Government claimed the statistics shot down suggestions that Portuguese non-Bermudians predominated.

Said Acting Labour and Home Affairs Minister, the Hon. Michael Winfield: "It shows there are other communities who are in the same position.'' Statistics from the 1991 Census reveal there are 918 work permit holders who have been here 20 years or more.

In this category there are 282 from the Azores, 201 from the UK, and 166 from the USA.

Figures for other areas include: 136, Canada; 63 Europe; and 32, Caribbean.

The National Liberal Party has been among those calling for a special policy for non-Bermudians who have worked here over 20 years.

But Mr. Winfield said these latest figures pulled the rug from under that stance.

The figures were among a vast batch of statistics produced as part of a wide-ranging Government investigation on the immigration issue.

Sources include the 1991 Census, and the Ministry's own files.

Among the key figures are those indicating a steady decline in the number of work permit holders.

In December, 1989, there were 10,114 holders of permits lasting one to five years.

Figures for December 31, 1990 and December 31, 1991 respectively were 7,969, and 6,099.

By 30 September this year the number had slumped to 5,473 -- a decrease of 4,641 in roughly three years.

Said Mr. Winfield: "This is a dramatic fall in work permit holders, and while it may be seen as a triumph, it has also had a negative impact on Bermudians.

"These permit holders who have left are no longer living in rented apartments, or buying food and clothing from stores owned and staffed by Bermudians.'' Mr. Winfield said the recession may have squeezed the non-Bermudians out of jobs.

In this case, the jobs would be lost, and not go to Bermudians, he explained.

Figures for short-term work permit holders -- those here for between three months and a year -show an increase over the last three years.

In December, 1989, there were 255 short term holders, while by September this year the number had risen to 592.