Government does not know how to address the predicament of Bermuda's long-term residents and the latest promise to discuss the issue in Parliament is a testament to this fact, a Shadow Minister said yesterday.

Shadow Immigration Minister Alex Scott was responding to a story in Friday's edition of The Royal Gazette in which the Premier promised to study and discuss the entire issue over the next legislative session.

"The moment I heard the issue had resurfaced as a topic I thought immediately that Dr. Saul was just reacting to a question shot at him from the floor and that turned out to be the case,'' Mr. Scott said.

"That typifies the way Government handles this issue from (past Immigration Ministers) Sir Jack Sharpe, on through Irving Pearman and now Quinton Edness.

But it is an issue that will not go away.'' Acting Immigration Minister Jerome Dill yesterday denied Mr. Scott's assertions and said:"I met with staff at the Ministry on Friday afternoon and they briefed me on this matter and several others as well.

"The problem is that statements like Mr. Scott's are simply not helpful.'' Meanwhile, Dr. Saul has said Government intends to discuss the matter through the vehicle of a Green Paper.

However, Government had promised to have a Green Paper on this subject more than one year ago but it has yet to surface.

Mr. Scott said Government has no idea what to do because the issues were complex and there was some resentment from some Bermudians who saw long term residents as competitors for scarce jobs and school places.

"There are some Bermudians, many of them black, who react with reservation because they see long term residents as just another group that will be competing with them. But it is my view that Bermuda has both a responsibility and an obligation to these people.

"Regardless of who the Government is or the Minister holding the portfolio, we have a commitment to these people.

"Every time Government allows a work permit to be renewed for another three or four years we invite, allow and encourage this kind of thing to occur. Once they reach 15 or 20 years as a resident, many have families with children who know no other country.

"Once we reach that point Bermuda has an obligation to them.'' A PLP Government, Mr. Scott said, would offer residency certificates to these persons so that they can plan their lives without restraint.

GOVERNMENT GVT